Newsletter Contents:
Inaugural ASEAN-EU Health Summit
EU-ABC Thailand Virtual Mission
Events & Activities
In the News
New Member: Novo Nordisk
Partner Events
September was an eventful month for the EU-ASEAN Business Council as we held our Inaugural ASEAN-EU Health Summit and had a calendar of a varied mix of events and activities ranging from high level meetings including the EU-ABC Thailand Virtual Mission, the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting to the European-Philippine Business Summit and the European Union Intellectual Property Office Annual Observatory Plenary Meeting.
On the Advocacy Group front, the EU-ABC’s Insurance Advocacy Group held a workshop with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner in Thailand.
As we move into the final quarter of the year, do keep a lookout for a pipeline of exciting events and publications we are planning for you, to end the year on a strong note.
The EU-ASEAN Business Council held our first ever Health Summit at the Fairmont Hotel Singapore on 15th September 2021.
The Summit saw high-level officials from across Southeast Asia and Europe, as well as business leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, and academics exchange views on strengthening healthcare capabilities on all levels, which is crucial as the COVID-19 crisis has proven.
Kickstarting our Virtual Mission is a roundtable discussion with H.E. Arkholme Termpittayapaisith Minister of Finance for Thailand on 27 September.
Around 80 of our members were part of the excellent and wide ranging discussion covering post-pandemic economic recovery, excise tax policy, sustainable healthcare financing, state-owned enterprise policy, combating illicit trade, customs procedures, taxation policy and much more.
28 September saw a virtual roundtable discussion with the Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperatives led byVice Minister Narapat Kaethong.
Representatives from our members including The European Chamber of Commerce Thailand, Syngenta, BASF, Bayer, HSBC, Swiss Re Danone, Michelin, Reckitt and Shell joined the discussion with topics spanning from boosting agricultural production and quality, registration processes for agri-chemicals, use of technology in farming, insurance coverage, climate change among many others
29 September was another exciting day with a roundtable discussion with the Ministry of Public Health and H.E. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Public Health.
The outstanding meeting covered a whole range of issues including healthy ageing, sustainable health financing, COVID-19, economic reopening, digital health and Thailand’s eHealth Strategy, to list a few.
Events & Activities
The EU-ASEAN Business Council had its annual consultation meeting with the ASEAN Economic Ministers alongside European Commission Trade Commissioner EVP Dombrovskis on 14 September, where we gave a presentation titled Driving Economic Recovery for Now & A Sustainable Future.
Opportunity was seized to push for more action on trade facilitation in Southeast Asia, particularly on NTBs, the need for Informed Compliance and on the ASEAN Low Value Shipment Programme.
Issues concerning energy transition, the need for greening of supply chains, more collaboration on anti-illicit trade including an ASEAN-wide multi-stakeholder MOU, human development and the need for more action on harmonisation of standards were also raised at this eventful discussion.
European-Philippine Business Summit
The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines held their European-Philippine Business Summit on 23 and 30 September with a focus on how a course can be set for the next decade of stronger European-Philippine economic ties and brighter economic opportunities.
The EU-ASEAN Business Council is pleased to be supporting partner of this event featuring high level discussions, where Chris Humphrey, Executive Director of EU-ABC had the privilege of being a part of the panel discussion.
EU-ASEAN Business Council Executive Director, Chris Humphrey was part of a panel discussion on awareness and capacity building on illicit trade, with a focus on how to prevent in the online environment.
As there exist the need for a region wide MOU between law enforcement, e-commerce platforms and brand owners to help identify and take down sellers of counterfeit goods, we are pleased to be part of the highly relevant discussion on 30 September.
On 1st October the EU-ABC’s Insurance Advocacy Group held a workshop on its 2021 Paper with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner in Thailand.
EU-ABC members Prudential, Axa, Generali, Allianz, Swiss Re and EABC Thailand participated in a deep discussion with Dr Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn, the Commissioner, on a range of topics including use of digital tools to improve the reach and efficiency of insurance provision, digital literacy, and tax incentives.
