The programme aims at recognising and celebrating social entrepreneurs in the Asia-Pacific region who are making positive impact in their communities to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations, says a press release.

Senior Vice President (Corporate Communications and Sustainability) of the company Christina Koh said: "Entrepreneurs are the society's change makers. For our awards, we see these entrepreneurs as people whose fundamental goal is to create positive social impact by evolving new and innovative methods and practices".

A crucial aspect of the awards is its alignment to the MDGs, which are a blueprint agreed to by the world's countries and leading development institutions to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global partnership for development.

The awards will be rolled out in five countries in Asia-Pacific -- Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. A national winner will be chosen from each of the five participating countries, and an Asia-Pacific regional winner will be selected from the five national winners.

Scott Price, CEO of DHL Express of Asia-Pacific, said: "It is our belief that social entrepreneurs play an instrumental role in driving socio-economic development in their communities."

Application submission date for the awards opened on February 1 and it will close on March 31, 2007. Details are available at www.dhl.com/yesawards.