Kuala Lumpur, 14 January 2020 – Vietnam, as the ASEAN Chair for 2020, will focus on enhancing ASEAN solidarity, economic integration and identity while being more responsive by promoting ASEAN pro-activeness, under the ASEAN 2020 theme, “Cohesive and Responsive”.
Experts in both the public and private sectors all agreed that ASEAN stands to be at the forefront of the development of financial technology (Fintech) by making financial services and financing available to both the 53% of unbanked population and MSMEs in ASEAN, drawing opportunity from ASEAN’s above global average internet penetration rate of 63% and mobile connectivity at 132%.
(3 Oct 2019, Kuala Lumpur) The ASEAN Business Club hosted its 2nd ABC Dialogue titled “Indonesia’s Political Economy Outlook in ASEAN” with Bapak Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, former Vice Governor of Jakarta in Kuala Lumpur. Bapak Sandiaga Uno was also the former candidate of the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia in the recent closely contested 2019 presidential election.
The ASEAN Business Club hosted its inaugural ABC Dialogue titled “ASEAN-Japan: New Areas of Economic Cooperation” with Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives) at Kuala Lumpur. The delegation consisting of key members of Keizai Doyukai was led by Mr. Nobuhide Hayashi, the new ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting (AJBM) Chairman (former Chairman of Mizuho Bank). Led by Tan Sri Dr.
The ASEAN Business Club hosted its inaugural ABC Dialogue titled “ASEAN-Japan: New Areas of Economic Cooperation” with Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives) at Kuala Lumpur. The delegation consisting of key members of Keizai Doyukai was led by Mr. Nobuhide Hayashi, the new ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting (AJBM) Chairman (former Chairman of Mizuho Bank). Led by Tan Sri Dr.
Experts caution ASEAN must make the political commitment to address major external issues confronting ASEAN to ensure ASEAN centrality is not compromised. To achieve that, ASEAN requires enhanced policy capacity, policy coordination and steady institutional change internally; while also requiring coherent ASEAN strategies and engaging regional and global partners in collective leadership.
Panellists speaking at the ASEAN Roundtable Series on the topic of “Future of ASEAN Trade: Tackling Non-Tariff-Barriers in the New World Trade Order” organised by CIMB ASEAN Research Institute (CARI) concurred that current measures to address NTBs in ASEAN were underdeveloped and stronger political will among ASEAN member states is critically needed to fully address the issue.
Experts speaking at the ASEAN Roundtable Series on the topic of “How does ASEAN navigate the new trade [dis]order?” organised by CIMB ASEAN Research Institute (CARI) traced the roots of hedging behaviour and identified lack of cohesiveness as some of the weaknesses that ASEAN has to overcome while navigating the new trade uncertainties.
Deputy Minister in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Dr. Ong Kian Ming, said that the present administration is committed to expediting the economic integration of ASEAN as laid down in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025. Despite the fiscal challenges facing the present Malaysian government, Dr. Ong says that Putrajaya remains committed to pursuing the integration agenda as it will deliver net gain for Malaysia and ASEAN.
ASEAN Business Club (ABC), ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) and ASEAN Bankers Association (ABA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation and collaboration through ASEAN-BAC Joint Business Council Financial Services Working Group.