“Don’t fixate on trade with China at the expense of Southeast Asia” is the message from Glenn Maguire, ANZ’s Chief Economist for ASEAN.
ASEAN members collectively make up the World’s 7th biggest economy and its GDP underwent the third largest growth in the world between 2000 and 2013. Maguire predicts ASEAN will be the “factory of Asia” – the new China – in 10 to 15 years time.
2015 is the 40th year of successful engagement between NZ and ASEAN and at the end of the year, ASEAN’s Economic Community is launched.
No better reason to hold the definitive ASEAN Forum – and with partners AUT University, the ASEAN NZ Business Council (ANZBC) is doing exactly this on Monday 31 August at AUT University in Auckland.
The full day Forum examines the synergies and differences between the ten ASEAN markets as diverse as Singapore and Myanmar, explores the opportunities and challenges for New Zealand businesses and offers advice on how to approach the markets.
Education is a special feature with breakout sessions on attracting ASEAN students to NZ and establishing ventures within ASEAN. There are also several plenary and breakout sessions on doing business successfully in ASEAN.
A team of 32 expert speakers and panellists include Trade Minister Hon Tim Groser and Tertiary Education Minister Hon Steven Joyce, the respective CEOs of Education NZ and NZTE, Grant McPherson and Peter Chrisp, several New Zealand exporters with strong ASEAN expertise and two distinguished ASEAN business visitors.
Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Mohd Munir Abdul Majid is Chairman of Bank Muamalat in Malaysia. He has also been CEO of CIMB Bank and Chairman of Celcom and MAS. A strong advocate of free trade and the elimination of protective trade barriers, Tan Sri Munir currently also chairs the Jakarta based ASEAN Business Advisory Council.
And Indonesian business expert, Noke Kiroyan returns having been the star turn at ANZBC’s landmark 2012 Indonesia Forum. Having served as an NZTE beachheads advisor, he is well able to articulate the ASEAN perspective to NZ exporters.
The Forum is followed by a cocktail party to celebrate the 40th anniversary.
See the full programme of the day here.