Past Events

The South Asian Business Excellence Awards were established to recognize and reward the outstanding achievements and results of trailblazers in the corporate sector amid a highly competitive market in the South Asian region. These awards honor both individuals and organizations that demonstrate exceptional performance. Award recipients are chosen through a selection process conducted by an international jury.

The first eight editions of The South Asian Business Excellence Awards (SAPSAA), held in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, featured twenty award categories designed to recognize excellence in innovation, enterprise, and endeavor within the South Asian business community across the region.

The inaugural edition took place on November 13, 2016, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where 65 winners were announced at the Water’s Edge. The event was graced by the Chief Guest, the Honorable State Minister of International Trade Affairs of Sri Lanka, Mr. Sujeewa Senasinghe, and the Honorable Minister of Economic Affairs of Afghanistan, Mr. Abdul Sattar Murad, who attended as a special guest.

The second edition occurred on October 21, 2017, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, honoring 70 winners at the Le Meridien Hotel. We were privileged to have Mr. Gowher Rizvi, the International Affairs adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, as the Chief Guest, along with the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan in Bangladesh as a special guest.

The third edition was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, on October 3, 2018, at the Radisson Hotel, celebrating 90 award winners. The fourth edition took place at the Hilton Colombo, Sri Lanka, on November 14, 2019, with the Honorable President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena as the chief guest, and the Honorable Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Arjuna Ranathunga, as our Guest of Honor.

The fifth edition was notable for having the highest attendance, with 400 guests and 120 award winners, despite the global pandemic. This event was held on December 10, 2021, at the Monarch Imperial Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The former President of Sri Lanka, Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, served as the Chief Guest, joined by Hon. Cabinet Minister Mr. Mahindananda Amaraweera, State Minister Mr. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Member of Parliament Mr. Shantha Bandara, and Mr. Reyad Hussain, Consul of the Bangladesh High Commission in Sri Lanka, among other distinguished guests.

Following the recognition of the second-highest award recipient from Bangladesh in the fifth edition in 2021, the organizing committee decided to host the sixth edition in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The sixth SAPSAA edition successfully concluded with nearly 300 participants at the Pan Pacific Hotel, honoring 100 award winners on September 22 and 23, 2022. The event was graced by Hon. Muhammad Abdul Mannan, the Minister of Planning of Bangladesh, who served as the Chief Guest, along with High Commissioners and prominent VVIPs, making it a memorable occasion for all attendees.

The seventh edition took place in the Maldives on November 30, 2023, at JEN Maldives Malé by Shangri-La, honoring 80 award winners. This event saw attendance from numerous VVIPs, including High Commissioners and ambassadors, with the First Lady serving as the Chief Guest. The eighth edition of SAPSAA was successfully concluded on December 20, 2024, at the Pride Plaza Hotel, New Delhi, India, where many diplomats attended as guests of honor. Mr. Neeraj Sharma served as the Chief Guest for this occasion.

Please visit our Facebook page to see the photographs from the past event.