UK-ASEAN Business Forum

ASEAN-BAC Malaysia co-hosted the UK-ASEAN Business Forum yesterday, where ASEAN-BAC Chairman Tan Sri Nazir Razak spoke alongside The Rt. Hon. Alderman Alastair King, Lord Mayor of the City of London; Stephanie Betant, Head of Global Trade Solutions, HSBC UK; and Tracy Vegro OBE, Chief Executive of The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (The CISI) on the topic of “Enhancing Financial Services in ASEAN” – exploring how strategic partnerships can drive sustainable financial growth, enhance financial inclusion, and support ASEAN’s economic development.

ASEAN-BAC Malaysia’s Executive Director, Jukhee Hong later shared on the ASEAN Inclusivity Collective (AIC), calling for the support of at least 1000 UK corporates sign on to the AIC, where amongst the priorities of the collective are the advocacy for 30% women representation in leadership, prioritisation of pay equity, and zero-tolerance policy on workplace violence and harassment.

Ahead of the forum, the ASEAN-BAC Malaysia delegation were hosted to a welcome dinner by The Rt Hon Lord Ed Vaizey, Chair of the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) at the House of Lords in honour of Malaysia’s Minister of International Trade and Industries, Senator Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul Aziz who exchanged views with the guests on ways to improve trade between Malaysia, ASEAN and the UK.

A special thanks to ACCA for hosting dinner, and our appreciation to the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) for facilitating the many solid dialogues on this first ASEAN-BAC Malaysia 2025 Chairmanship business mission outside of ASEAN.