Purpose-driven business

Nearly 10 months since coronavirus lockdowns first started, many companies have been pushed close to the abyss by the sharp curtailment of business activity and greatly reduced revenues.

Asia, home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, has already seen declining growth and rising poverty. Many executives have had to make painful decisions to suspend or lay off staff at the peak of the protracted pandemic.

The tourism industry, on which many regional economies including Thailand rely so heavily, has been devastated. Millions of people have lost income and jobs, from food vendors to staff of giant household names like Traveloka and AirAsia.

According to a World Bank forecast, the pandemic will cause the deepest recession since World War II, with global growth contracting by 5.2% and the largest proportion of economies…