London: Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has emphasised the importance of continuous engagement between ASEAN and the United Kingdom (UK) in expanding business opportunities and deepening the strong economic ties that have been built. He stated that this call for enhanced collaboration could include both government-to-government (G2G) cooperation and business-to-business (B2B) partnerships.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tengku Zafrul highlighted ASEAN’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment, focusing on certainty, accountability, efficiency, and transparency in policies and service delivery. He made these remarks during the UK-ASEAN Business Forum 2025 in London, titled ‘Growing Together: Connecting a Sustainable, Digital and Shared Future’. He encouraged the UK to engage not only at the leaders and ministerial levels but also through ASEAN’s Senior Economic Officials and the ASEAN BAC platform to further strengthen ASEAN-UK trade and investment.
This year, Malaysia will champion initiatives like the ASEAN Sustainable Investment Guidelines (ASIG) and the ASEAN Centre of Excellence for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Green Transition to establish regional best practices. The UK, being a leader in financial services innovation and green finance regulation, provides institutions like the UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment (CGFI) and the UK Climate Investments (UKCI) as global benchmarks. ASEAN could leverage the UK’s expertise to accelerate its green finance strategies and integrate sustainability into economic planning.
Tengku Zafrul pointed out that Malaysia’s Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) will be pivotal to its ASEAN chairmanship, marking key milestones for the region in 2025. A significant achievement will be the upgrade of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), enhancing regional trade and economic connectivity. Strengthening supply chain linkages in the semiconductor, renewable energy, and tourism sectors will help mitigate risks from global disruptions while reinforcing ASEAN’s position as an innovation-driven economic hub.
He further noted the vast potential for UK industries to explore ASEAN’s end-to-end supply chain capabilities. Where gaps exist, UK businesses can play a role in developing and operating those critical areas. A landmark achievement in 2025 will be the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which will harmonise regulations, standards, and practices to facilitate cross-border digital trade and data flows. With the potential to double ASEAN’s Digital Economy to US$2 trillion by 2030, DEFA has drawn interest from UK tech companies and global players.