PAST EVENT: ASEAN-EU Trade and Investment Dialogue

ASEAN-EU TRADE & INVESTMENT DIALOGUE

STRENGTHENING EU-ASEAN RELATIONS

Date:  Monday, 9 December 2024
Time: 09:30 – 12:30 CET
Venue: EIAS, Rue de la Loi 26, B-1040 Brussels

*The Event was followed by a Networking Lunch

The ASEAN Brussels’ Committee (ABC) through the Embassy of Malaysia in Belgium and the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) had the pleasure of organising the “ASEAN-EU Trade & Investment Dialogue: Strengthening ASEAN-EU Relations”, which was held on Monday, 9 December 2024 from 09:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the European Institute for Asian Studies, Rue de la Loi 26, 10th Floor, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium. 

In a rapidly evolving global economy, fostering resilient and mutually beneficial trade partnerships is more critical than ever. The political landscape of the European Union (EU) is undergoing a significant transformation following the recent European elections. The new composition of the European Parliament and the changes in leadership within key EU institutions present both challenges and opportunities for ASEAN-EU relations. Simultaneously, ASEAN is witnessing dynamic developments that have a certain bearing on its trade policies and external relations. Given these parallel developments, it was timely to facilitate a platform for dialogue between the EU and ASEAN to explore avenues for deepening trade and investment ties. The dialogue brought together key stakeholders from both regions to discuss the challenges and explore opportunities in ASEAN-EU trade relations. 

The dialogue aimed to facilitate a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead, charting a path towards more robust and mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

Programme

09:00 – 09:30 Registration and Welcome Coffee

09:30 – 10:00 Welcoming Remarks

Welcoming Remarks 

• H.E. Dato’ Mohd Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak
  Ambassador of Malaysia to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU 
  Chair of ASEAN Brussels Committee  

Keynote Addresses 

• Wouter Beke, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

10:00 – 11:00 Session 1
Bridging Markets: ASEAN-EU Trade and Investment Opportunities and the Road Ahead: ‘A Dialogue with Policymakers on Enhancing Regional Collaboration’

Engaging key policymakers in a forward-looking dialogue on the future of ASEAN-EU economic collaboration, this first session will highlight how strategic policy alignments can promote growth and stability for both regions, particularly addressing both challenges and opportunities in trade, investment, and regulatory frameworks. Actionable steps will be explored to reduce trade barriers and enhance connectivity between the two regions, paving the way for a stronger, and more integrated ASEAN-EU partnership that meets the demands of a dynamic global marketplace. The future directions of the current and prospective bilateral trade talks will be delved into, in addition to how sectoral cooperation can be further enhanced.

Panelists: 

• H.E. Dato’ Mohd Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak, Ambassador of  Malaysia,  Chair of the ASEAN Brussels Committee
  
• Iuliu Winkler, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade
  
• Christophe Kiener, Head of Unit for South and Southeast Asia and Australasia, Directorate-General for Trade, European Commission
  
• László Druskóczi, Head of the Trade Policy Unit, Hungarian Presidency Trade Office, Permanent Representation of Hungary to the EU  

Moderator: Lin Goethals, Director of EIAS 

*The Panel Discussion was followed by an interactive Q&A Session

11:00 – 11:15 Coffee break

11:15 – 12:15 Session 2: 
On the Frontlines of Trade – Industry Insights on EU Policies:
‘Private Sector Perspectives on Impact, Challenges, and  Improvements’ 

Bringing together industry leaders/economists to provide practical perspectives on navigating current policies, the second panel focused on how these policies impact the private sector, and opportunities for improvement. Assessing the impact of current regulations on daily business operations, the discussion highlighted challenges and identified areas to better support growth. This dialogue offered an opportunity to hear directly from the business community what adjustments are needed to foster a more conducive, competitive, post-election business environment across sectors. With a focus on emerging sectors for advanced collaboration – such as the digital economy and green transition, the discussion also explored the role of the private sector in driving trade and investment, and the strategies needed to navigate an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment.

Panelists:

• Chris Humphrey, Executive Director, EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) 
• Pascal Kerneis, Managing Director, European Services Forum 
• Eleonora Catella, Deputy Director, International Relations Department, Confederation of European Business (BusinessEurope)
  
• Jelmen Haaze, Senior Expert, Management Consulting, PwC

Moderator: Liyana Othman, Advocacy Director, EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) 

*The Panel Discussion was followed by an interactive Q&A Session 

12:15 – 12:30 Closing Session 

12:30 – 14:00 Networking Lunch 

The event was followed by a networking lunch with Southeast Asian food.

Photo Credits: European Union 2023