Mr. Martin Kent and Ambassador Sarah Tiffin discuss how the UK and ASEAN are forging greater economic and people-to-people ties. ASEAN is an engine room of global growth. It is home to around 680 million people and fast-growing, innovative economies. The region is collectively equivalent to the fifth-largest economy in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook for October.

UKABC was delighted to host HMTC Martin Kent and David Johnstone from the Department for Business and Trade for a tour de force covering updates on ASEAN and the wider Asia Pacific region from both a bilateral and wider regional political and commercial perspective.

Following a visit earlier this year by Martin Kent, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) was pleased to work in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade and The British High Commission in Brunei to deliver the first-ever UK Trade Mission to Brunei Darussalam. 12 companies joined us on the mission which ran from 25-27 November 2024.

The UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) was delighted to support the successful Indonesian Investment Forum (IIF) at the Raffles Hotel London. This annual event was co-hosted by the Indonesian Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industry (BPKM) through the Indonesian Investment Promotion Centre (IIPC) and the Indonesian Embassy in London.

UKABC was honoured to host a high-level delegation from the Philippine Government including Secretaries leading the Departments of Finance, Energy and Budget and Management. On this occasion, we were delighted to also be joined by the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs and the Deputy Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Philippines Central Bank).

ASEAN is one of the fastest-growing parts of the global economy, with 700 million people, and many nations with strong and resilient economies. There is a real appetite to engage with the UK. As we rightly pivot back to better relations with the EU, we mustn’t lose sight of our need to continually engage with ASEAN…

UKABC’s Chair, Lord Vaizey of Didcot, and Chief Executive, Ian Gibbons led the UK’s business delegation and UK business programme during the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) and Outlook on the Indo-Pacific Forum in Vientiane, Laos from the 8-11 October.

The global accountancy body – ACCA – is working with the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) to promote international business and trade in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The UKABC-led events – where ACCA is principal sponsor – will see government, business, and trade leaders discuss issues that matter to businesses looking to enter and extend their commercial footprint in the region.

UK Trade Minister signs trade pact designed to boost trade and investment with Thailand and open the country up to British businesses.

In early August, Ian Gibbons, the Chief Executive of the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC), was delighted to once again meet with His Excellency Dato' Zakri Jaafar, High Commissioner of Malaysia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

In Vientiane, the Foreign Secretary will position the UK as a key partner to the Indo-Pacific region by forging closer collaboration on areas including trade, climate change and health security. Marking his first official visit to the region, the summit will highlight this government’s plan to strengthen Britain’s influence with the global powers of tomorrow.

The UK’s Senior Economic Official to ASEAN, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Asia Pacific Martin Kent, visited Vientiane, Laos to demonstrate the UK’s continued and deepening economic commitment to ASEAN.

Ian Gibbons, the Chief Executive Officer of the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC), recently met with His Excellency Mr Ng Teck Hean, the High Commissioner of Singapore to the United Kingdom. The meeting marked a significant step towards enhancing the bilateral relationship between the UK and ASEAN, with a particular focus on Singapore.

On 28th June 2024, Ambassador Teodoro Locsin Jr. welcomed Mr Ian Gibbons, Chief Executive of the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC), to the Philippine Embassy in London. Their meeting focused on enhancing the Philippines-UK bilateral relationship, particularly through bolstering two-way trade and investment. Ambassador Locsin extended an invitation to British businesses, encouraging them to invest in one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia.

On Friday, 28th June, UKABC was delighted to support KPMG’s and DBT’s UK-Cambodia Trade and Investment Conference. This conference marked the first official Cambodian trade and investment mission to the UK and was led by H.E. Dr. Sok Siphana, Senior Minister for Trade and Investment of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

Ian Gibbons, Chief Executive Officer of the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC), recently returned from a trip to Singapore encouraged by positive insights on the region's economic landscape. In a LinkedIn post, Ian highlighted the talent and dynamism of Singapore and the broader ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region and emphasised UKABC's engagement with key organisations including The ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) to drive economic growth and investment opportunities.

The UK Mission to ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat launched the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme (EIP) in Jakarta to foster economic growth in the region.

The UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) extends thanks to all participants for their contributions to the success of the recent UK-ASEAN Business Forum. Held on Tuesday 26th March 2024, the event featured insightful discussions on key topics including digital transformation, infrastructure connectivity, green finance, economic integration, people mobility, and climate change resilience.