Market insights essential to connect more Australian businesses with ASEAN

Asialink Business welcomes grant from the Australia-ASEAN Council to curate practical business forums to support the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in 2018

(Melbourne, 4 January 2018) In the lead-up to the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in March, Australian businesses nation-wide can join the conversation on business and investment opportunities in Southeast Asia, and access contemporary market insights and practical case studies, following new collaboration between the Australia-ASEAN Council (AAC) and Asialink Business.

Asialink Business has been awarded a grant by the AAC to curate a series of forums designed to help businesses assess and enter new markets in ASEAN, understand and respond to emerging consumer trends, harness the digital economy and navigate ASEAN’s common market.

Announcing the grants, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the project will help “build understanding and opportunity between the people of Australia and Southeast Asia,” and “leverage the momentum of this year's historic ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.”

The business forums will bring together leading industry experts for an interactive discussion and first-hand perspectives on the pressing considerations for Australian businesses looking to unlock opportunities in ASEAN and grow globally.

Asialink Business CEO, Mukund Narayanamurti says:

“We are delighted to partner with the AAC on this important initiative, in the lead-up to the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit (Sydney, 16-18 March).

“ASEAN embodies opportunity for agile Australian Businesses. Its economic growth is outpacing the rest of the world, and with a young and mobile population, ASEAN is set to become the fourth largest economy globally by 2030.

“But while we are all familiar with the statistics, many of the opportunities are still untapped. Whether you are a business in regional Australia, or in a capital city, the State of the Nation: ASEAN series will help bridge this gap.

“From understanding ASEAN’s changing consumers, to leveraging the AEC common market and the evolving digital economy, these accessible forums will share practical market insights to give Australian businesses a competitive edge.”

Four forums will be held in early March at locations around Australia. To maximise the opportunity for rural businesses to participate, each event will be co-facilitated at live sites in regional Australia.  Businesses can also join in the discussion via Facebook Live.

The forums will explore the following themes:

  • NSW (Sydney/Hunter Valley) – Friday 2 March: “ASEAN – Common market, distinct strengths”
  • VIC (Melbourne/Warrnambool) – Tuesday 6 March: “Innovation and the digital economy”
  • QLD (Brisbane/Townsville) – Wednesday 7 March: “Understanding ASEAN’s changing consumers”
  • WA (Perth/Pilbara Region) – Friday 9 March: “Tourism destination development and aviation”

More information will be available here soon.

For media inquiries please contact:

Heather Chai, Head of Communications and Public Relations

T + 61 423 035 277  /E: heather.chai@asialinkbusiness.com.au

Forevent details please contact:

Bernadine Fernandez Manager, Corporate Relations & Programs

T +61 3 8344 3575 M +61 433 962 915 / E: b.fernandez@asialinkbusiness.com.au