Sheikh Aliur Rahman, the group chairman of the London Tea Exchange, has recently been recognised at the 2025 Sino-Phil Asia International Peace Awards in Manila for his leadership in launching the Global Fair Pay Charter.
The initiative aims to improve living conditions and wages for tea plantation workers worldwide.
In his acceptance speech, Aliur Rahman highlighted the ongoing struggle against poverty, saying: “Millions of people, even today, when we have rovers on Mars, cannot afford two meals a day. That is unacceptable.”
He said that it took 25 years to bring stakeholders together to acknowledge the urgency of the issue.
Calling for action, he urged: “This is a time when we need people to go out and speak truth to power. The issue isn’t whether we can or not; the issue is whether we have the courage to do it.”
Rahman also reaffirmed his commitment to the foundation’s mission, pledging to support its objectives moving forward.
The Sino-Phil Asia International Peace Awards, organised by the Sino-Phil Asia International Peace Awards Foundation, celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to global peace, humanitarian efforts, and social progress.
The 2025 edition honored laureates from across the globe, including Australia, China, the Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Norway, the Philippines, Rwanda, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
