UKABC’s Director-ASEAN leads UK representation at the Joint Business Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur - 22 September 2025

Kuala Lumpur, Monday 22 September 2025

The 26th Joint Business Council (JBC) Meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the St. Regis Hotel under Malaysia’s 2025 Chairmanship. Tan Sri Nazir Razak, Chairman of ASEAN BAC Malaysia, outlined their legacy projects, including the ASEAN Business Entity framework to facilitate cross-border movement of staff and capital, as well as the development of ASEAN Private Capital Markets. Other achievements included progress on an ASEAN Common Carbon Framework and highlighted Malaysia’s theme of “Unifying Markets for Shared Prosperity”.

The Philippines presented its vision for 2026, guided by the theme “Navigating the Future Together towards Inclusivity and Prosperity for All.” Its priorities will focus on inclusion (youth, women, MSMEs), sustainability and resilience (energy, tourism, food security), and innovation (digital economy, creative industries). Flagship events such as the ASEAN-BAC Gala in January 2026 and the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in October will highlight its agenda. Legacy projects include mentorship for MSMEs and a Food Security Alliance, designed to strengthen both resilience and regional collaboration.

Allen Lai, Director – ASEAN and Corporate Affairs for the UK-ASEAN Business Council, took part in the meeting and presented UKABC’s three priority recommendations that were to be presented to the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting. These were:

1. Accelerating the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) to promote interoperability and reduce barriers to digital trade.

2. Scaling up investment in renewable energy and regional power infrastructure, leveraging UK expertise to support the ASEAN Power Grid.

3. Adopting internationally recognised sustainability reporting standards to enhance transparency, align with global markets, and improve access to sustainable finance.

Overall, the meeting highlighted Malaysia’s achievements in advancing regional economic integration, the Philippines’ forward-looking agenda for inclusivity and innovation in 2026, and the UKABC’s strong partnership role in ASEAN’s economic community.