The eighth edition of the Asean Conference, with the theme of “Reimagining Asean for a Sustainable Tomorrow”, took place August 29 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore. The annual event – organised by the Singapore Business Federation, with support from Singapore-based bank UOB as a founding partner – brought together more than 500 government leaders and C-suite executives from 13 countries to facilitate regional economic dialogues and provide insights into how businesses can use available resources to drive growth.

The conference kicked off with a ministerial dialogue featuring Gan Kim Yong, Singapore’s deputy prime minister and minister for trade and industry, who underscored the pivotal role that regional partnerships will play in transforming the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc into a global hub for innovation and sustainable growth. He also emphasised the region’s growing significance to the global economy amid a climate of rising tensions around the world.

Echoing this sentiment, Wee Ee Cheong, deputy chairman and CEO of UOB, noted in his opening address to the conference that despite global challenges, Asean economies have shown remarkable resilience, consistently outpacing global growth. He also reaffirmed UOB’s commitment to Southeast Asia by partnering with government investment agencies to aid companies looking to expand beyond their borders.

The Asean Conference also featured two panel discussions that offered insights into region-wide economic development. The first panel reviewed the progress and achievements made under the Asean Economic Community Blueprint 2025, examining the impact of economic integration on regional businesses and also looking towards the next steps.

The second panel addressed the circular economy, discussing emerging trends as well as how new resources and financial tools can be used by businesses to reassess and enhance their strategies within the region.

During the second half of the day, individual markets were explored in breakout sessions focused on Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. These market breakouts featured panel discussions on Indonesia’s digital landscape and sustainability investments, Malaysia’s business and investment prospects, and Thailand’s opportunities for green investment.