Top Asean/EU trade officials to convene in Cambodia
The 2nd ASEAN-EU Business Summit will be held in Phnom Penh on April 1, to bring together entrepreneurs, private investors and public policy-makers from both the EU and ASEAN to address key issues related to ASEAN-EU trade relations, while identifying new
Organised by the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, the EU Delegation to Cambodia, Eurocham Cambodia and the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, the summit will convene over 300 business leaders from ASEAN and Europe. ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, the EU Commissioner for Trade, Karel de Gucht, and Cambodia's Minister of Commerce and Chairman of ASEAN Economic Ministers, Cham Prasidh, are hosting the event and will actively participate in the Summit, together with all other ASEAN Trade and Economic Ministers. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen will welcome participants and officially open the event.
"I expect this year's ASEAN-EU Business Summit to contribute significantly to the promotion of trade and investment flows between the two regions by exploring ways to reduce barriers and minimise constraints in trade and investment between the ASEAN countries and the EU common market.” stated Ambassador Jean-François Cautain, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Cambodia.
This followed the first summit in Jakarta in May 2011.
The upcoming summit builds on previous discussions and helps to intensify business-to-business relations while promoting dialogue between governments and the private sector. The EU aims to explore new business opportunities in this fast growing region and to further improve the strong partnership that helps to support ASEAN's economic integration.
“Business communities from both sides will utilise this second AEBS to deepen the networks that have been established. It will further enhance ASEAN-EU economic cooperation and engagement," said Secretary General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan.
International business leaders are expected to convene during a day of meetings, discussions and closed door sessions on how to further improve business in the most relevant trade and investment sectors between the two economic communities. Sectorial discussions will be preceded by an open debate on promoting ASEAN-EU Business Partnerships based on responsible and sustainable business models and practices , CSR.
The industry sectors to be discussed include Agri-Business (food processing, beverages), Infrastructure/Connectivity (logistics, trade facilitation); Manufacturing (automobile, pharmaceutical); and Services (finance, insurance, ICT).
On April 2, there will be a Business2Business (B2B) meeting with ASEAN and European business leaders as well as leading Cambodian businessmen who network and discuss insight into and opportunities offered by the Cambodian legal services, tourism industry and the Garment industry.
Winston Set Aung, economic advisor to the president of Burma, will also give presentation on building business in the country. He will be joined by U Win Aung, president of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, who will elaborate on this exciting market’s trend for 2012.
