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#FridayFive from the Executive Director: 14 March 2025

Trade, exports, ASEAN… what a bumper #FridayFive. This is what I’ve been up to championing Britain in South East Asia | BiSEA and the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore (BritCham).

1.   A pleasant re-connection: It was great to see Richard Warburton MBE on his way to the airport. Thank you Richard for re-routing and checking in. 🙏🫂

2.   Southeast Asia: Thanks to Ben Raby and Allen Lai who invited us to the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) Summit this week. It was excellent to meet the ASEAN BAC Chair Tan Sri Nazir Razak together with Jukhee Hong, Joon Nien Mak Nien. An excellent session, and good to see so many connections there. 🇸🇬🌏

3.   Encouraging Collaboration: We held our BiSEA conference in the BEAUTIFUL Churchill Room at Old Admiralty Building. Thank you to Shevaun Haviland, Martin Kent, Rhiannon Harries, Dominic James, HMG Trade Envoy Matt Weston MP and Jack Dainty for joining the discussions. Huge thanks to Co-Chair Ian Fox who has been a stellar co-pilot - I'm so grateful for all of your amazing leadership and support. Good luck to Jennifer Lopez from the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (BMCC) who I’ve handed my Co-Chair position over to. 🗣️🇲🇾

4.   All about Trade: It was excellent to see Gordon Dudley, Nikesh Mehta, Søren Nikolajsen, and Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for Services, Small Business, and Exports. The British Chambers were there talking trade, answering questions about exporting to Southeast Asia as part of the Department for Business and Trade, Made in the UK Sold to the Asia Pacific roadshow. 🚚⛴️

5.   Networks and Thanks: Thank you to Rowan Douglas CBE and Daniel Fairweather, for the awesome venue for the BiSEA networking reception at Howden's HQ in London, and Eddy Herbert for sponsoring. We welcomed 80 guests to continue to champion collaboration across Southeast Asia. Great to see Jane Smallman, Damian Adams, Anne-Marie Martin, Cher Young, Hayley Waskett and many more there. 🥂🙌

So ASEAN was the focus this week, and also slipped in a British Chambers of Commerce Board meeting, and it was great to catch up with James Price Chair of our SESB committee in London with Sarah Howard MBE and Andy. Have a great weekend!

Matt Ryland Wayne McIntosh Chris Wren Greg Watkins MBE Chris Nelson Lia Armalia Chenny Siew Kee