Beximco Pharma, Biman Bangladesh, Shinepukur Ceramics and Walton Motorcycles—all Bangladeshi brands—were applauded along with other well known Asian houses at the first Asian Brand and Leadership Summit in Dubai on August 26-27.

The event flagged off by Asia's Most Promising Brands & Leaders 2012-2013 is an initiative of World Consulting and Research Corporation (WCRC) and ibrands 360 research, WCRC said in a statementyesterday.

With the theme, Rise of Asia, 200 brands were featured in 50 industry categories to form the "most promising brands" of Asia to bring to the fore the companies that have shown tremendous growth in the past five years.

Nazmul Hassan, managing director of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, won as one of top 15 most influential leaders from Asia.

'These recognitions speak about our commitment to excellence and will certainly help Beximco Pharma reach a broader global audience,' Hassan said.

"I am also very pleased that Beximco Pharma has been selected by the esteemed jury as one of the top 31 most promising brands in Asia and

also as industry's no. 1 brand in the pharmaceuticals category."

The 200 Most Promising Brands in Asia, Legends of Asia, Awards for the Most Promising Leaders in Asia, Special Awards in Marketing and Business were also given out for their

innovation and contribution to Asia.

The focus was on brands with revenues less than $ 10 billion that are successfully taking on and beating their competitors through their steady growth and presence.

KPMG of India formed the process advisers and evaluators to the event and precision-driven checks and balances at critical junctures of the research methodology was comprised by a highly distinguished and much-admired international jury panel that included Prof Malcolm McDonald, chairman of Brand Finance.

"This is a massive project with extensive

research that has identified brands and leaders that are set to be the super-powers of tomorrow," said Abhimanyu Ghosh, executive editor and managing director of World Consulting & Research Corporation.

"They have been featured for the first time a singular platform aptly titled Asia's Most Promising. With Bangladesh being one of the fastest growing nations, their efforts are being noticed and appreciated. "