UK-ASEAN Business Council hosted Dialogue with the Secretary-General of ASEAN
UKABC was delighted to welcome Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, back to the UK for a business dialogue and networking reception marking the 5th anniversary of the UK’s Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN.
We were grateful to the Secretary-General for taking time from his busy schedule to renew friendships and share his perspective on the depth and momentum of ASEAN–UK engagement.
ASEAN’s strategic global position has long been recognised by our members but in today’s environment of heightened geoeconomic and geopolitical tensions, that importance only continues to grow,
Over the past five years, significant progress has been made to deepen the UK-ASEAN relationship. UKABC members — operating across energy, digital, financial and professional services, education and skills — continue to make meaningful contributions to strengthening trade and investment ties between our regions.
This business dialogue, moderated by UKABC Chair Lord Vaizey, provided an opportunity for the Secretary-General to outline ASEAN’s ambitious priorities for the next chapter of cooperation. This included:
Progress towards concluding the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA)
ASEAN’s 20-year Vision and the AEC 2026–2030 Strategic Plan
Strengthening ASEAN’s attractiveness as a destination for FDI
Energy cooperation, including the transformative potential of the ASEAN Power Grid
The Philippines’ agenda as ASEAN Chair in 2026
As part of the dialogue the Secretary-General endorsed the UK-ASEAN Business Council’s vital role as a bridge between business and policymakers in the region.
UKABC has an ambitious programme of engagement planned in Southeast Asia and the UK in the months ahead — including our UK-ASEAN Business Forum and participation in the Deputy Finance Ministers and Deputy Central Bank Governors meetings in Manila. Please get in touch if you would like more information.
Thank you to UKABC member Revolut for their generous hospitality, to ACCA, Arup, CISI, HSBC, Mott MacDonald, Oxford Nanopore, Pearson, Prudential, PwC UK, Standard Chartered, Premier League for their valuable insights, and to the UK Ambassador to ASEAN, Helen Fazey, for contributing to the discussion and demonstrating the strength of UK business–government collaboration.