Press Notice
UK-ASEAN Business Council Announces New Chair

London – The Rt Hon the Lord Vaizey of Didcot has been announced as the new Chair of the UK-ASEAN Business Council.  Lord Vaizey takes over from Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG who was recently appointed Minister of State in the Cabinet Office.

Lord Vaizey brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role at an exciting time in UK-ASEAN relations. Having served as the UK Government’s longest serving Culture and Digital Minister and as a former Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, Lord Vaizey is passionate about connecting the growing opportunities in Southeast Asia with British business.

On his appointment, Lord Vaizey said “By 2030, ASEAN is expected to be the 4^th largest economy in the world with a population of over 700 million, mainly young and digitally connected. The region’s digital economy alone is on track to grow to £900 billion by 2030. I am looking forward to working with British business and His Majesty’s Government to ensure that the UK is a key partner to the region’s growth.”

The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, Minster of State for Trade Policy at the Department for International Trade welcomed the announcement saying “I have had the pleasure of working with Ed when he was a Trade Envoy and also as a Minister and very much look forward to working with him once again to deepen the UK-ASEAN trade and investment relationship.”

Ian Gibbons MBE, Chief Executive Officer of UKABC said “We are very excited to welcome Lord Vaizey as our new Chair. His appointment comes as the UK and ASEAN are very much back in business and we look forward to working with Ed in engaging senior ASEAN government and business figures both in the region and here in the UK.”

Natalie Black CBE, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia-Pacific said “I’m thrilled to welcome Lord Vaizey as the new chair of the UK-ASEAN Business Council. UKABC is one of our closest partners in supporting UK businesses grow in this part of the world. As a former Digital Minister and Trade Envoy, Lord Vaizey brings with him a deep expertise in both tech and trade. I look forward to working together to bring British tech and innovation to Southeast Asia.”

Notes to editors

The UK-ASEAN Business Council is the leading UK based organisation that works with the Uk government and leading UK businesses on the increasing trade opportunities in vibrant Southeast Asia.

Lord Vaizey Biography 

Ed Vaizey was appointed to the UK House of Lords in September 2020, where he sits as a Conservative Peer and is a member of the Communications and Digital Committee. Ed was the Member of Parliament for Wantage between 2005 and 2019. He served as the UK Government Culture and Digital Minister from 2010-16 and is the longest-serving Minister in that role. He was appointed a privy councillor in 2016.

Ed served as a trade envoy to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos between 2017 and 2019.