The Nikkei Asia Prizes are awarded annually to individuals or groups selected for achievement in three categories: regional growth, technological innovation and culture.
This year's winners are Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, the Thai deputy prime minister and minister of commerce, for regional growth; Singapore's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, for technological innovation; and Thai architect Pinyo Suwankiri, for culture.
This is the fifth year the prizes have been awarded. At the awards ceremony in Tokyo, on June 7, each winner will receive a certificate of commendation and 3 million yen ($28,000).
- This year's winners are
- Singapore's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
- Pinyo Suwankiri : Thai architect
- Supachai Panitchpakdi : Thailand's deputy prime minister and minister of commerce
Prizes shine light on people, organizations contributing to stability and prosperity of a dynamic region
This year's winners of the Nikkei Asia Prizes demonstrate the potential of Asia becoming a leading global force in the next century.
Supachai Panitchpakdi, the deputy prime minister of Thailand and minister of commerce, has been awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize for Regional Growth.
He promoted deregulation of his nation's economy and has also contributed to trade liberalization and cooperation among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Supachai is scheduled to become secretary-general of the World Trade Organization in September 2002.
His dialogue-based approach toward building bridges between Asia and the rest of the world, exemplified by his leading role in the launch of the Asia-Europe Meeting, warrants great praise.
The Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, affiliated with the National University of Singapore, received the Nikkei Asia Prize for Technological Innovation.
Asia's first biotechnology research facility is being honored for raising the level of research in the region after just 10 years of work, attracting distinguished scientists from around the world by taking advantage of Singapore's reputation as a multicultural, polyglot nation.
Thai architect Pinyo Suwankiri has been awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize for Culture to honor the more than 30 years he has devoted to preserving traditional Thai architecture.
Pinyo has designed numerous religious buildings in India and the U.S., as well as in his own country.
He also helped create a university course to study traditional building methods.
The dramatically different backgrounds of the two Thai prize winners this year - Supachai is from a family of high social standing, while Pinyo was adopted by a Buddhist priest, from whom he learned traditional Thai arts - show us the wealth of diversity Thailand has to offer.
Over 53 new nominees were recommended for the fifth annual Nikkei Asia Prizes, in addition to 15 from previous years who were given renewed consideration.
The nominees we considered included cabinet ministers trying to revive their respective countries' economy and businesspeople trying to drastically restructure their companies to take advantage of the region's economic recovery.
However, we decided to honor those who labor across national boundaries and whose work has strong potential for the future.
By issuing the prizes each year, we hope to spotlight people and organizations that contribute to the stability and prosperity of Asia.
Gaishi Hiraiwa is chief judge for the Nikkei Asia Prizes. He is chairman emeritus of the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations, or Keidanren.
