This year's winners are Ni Runfeng, president and chief executive of the Sichuan Changhong Electronics Group of China, for regional growth; the Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia, for technological innovation; and Kim Jeong-ok, founder and art director of the JAYU (freedom) theater group, for culture. This is the third year of the prizes.
At the awards ceremony in Tokyo on June 3, 1998 each winner received a certificate of commendation and 3 million yen ($21,580).
- This year's winners are
- Ni Runfeng : Standing out as a model for reform
- Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia : Boosting quality of life through research
- Kim Jeong-ok : Director draws on Asian tradition
How nominations are made and winners chosen
Candidates for Nikkei's Asia Prizes are nominated by scholars, business executives and journalists in Japan and abroad. The nominees then are evaluated by a special committee, one for each category. Each committee recommends a winner, who then is voted upon by members of all three committees sitting together. No individuals or groups may nominate themselves.
Within the three categories, evalutations are made of the candidates' contributions to the quality of life and to culture in Asia and to the global significance of those contributions.
Eligilility for nomination is restricted to people and organizations working in Asia. Japanese nationals are not eligible.
For further information, please contact Masatami Kasagi, Manager, International Programs, Nikkei President's Office by E-mail (kasagi@tokyo.nikkei.co.jp) or telephone (81-3-5255-2032)
