UKABC was delighted to co-host an ASEAN-UK Business Networking Reception together with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, the UK’s Department for International Trade and the British Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

Over 200 guests from ASEAN, Thailand and the UK took part in the reception that was held on the eve of the start of the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit. The reception aimed to provide an opportunity for UK and ASEAN businesses to build and strengthen their relationships as well as showcase the deepening UK-ASEAN business relationship.

The Guest of honour was Dr. Aladdin Rillo, Deputy Secretary General for ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) at the ASEAN Secretariat. During his remarks he highlighted some of the important key achievements of the AEC on trade, investment, finance, technology, competition policy, and intellectual property rights, which reflect the key areas of interest of the UK. Arin Jira, Chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, Baroness Neville Rolfe, Chair of the UK-ASEAN Business Council and H.E. Brian Davidson, UK Ambassador to Thailand also gave welcoming remarks.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe also had the opportunity to meet with members of the Thailand Chevening Alumni Association which today number over 600 alumni who are in government, business and civil society.

After the speeches, the distinguished guests enjoyed a musical performance on stage by two Violinist Pae Akarawat Srinarong , member of the Vietrio band and Peter Pakdeejit.

The reception was part of the UKABC business engagement programme to the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. Led by Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Chair of UKABC, the aim of the programme was to impress upon ASEAN stakeholders the growing UK business engagement with ASEAN and explore areas of collaboration. The four-day programme included meetings with senior government and business figures from ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Dialogue Partners. The programme took place 1-4 November 2019.