Bangkok--Nov 25--Hill & Knowlton
Laos, 23 November 2004 - More than 200 top business leaders and government officials from the ASEAN region are expected to attend the 2nd ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ASEAN BIS) when it opens in Vientiane, Laos on Saturday (November 27). The Summit is expected to contribute US$3.6million to the Laos economy.
Heads-of-States and Ministers from the ASEAN countries and its trading partners will attend and deliver keynote speeches over the two-day Summit. They include Dr H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia; Mr Bounnhang Vorachith, Prime Minister of Lao PDR; Dato Seri Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia; President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines; Mr Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of Vietnam; Mr K Natwar Singh, Foreign Minister of India; Mr Bo Xilai, Minister of Commerce of the PR of China.
ASEAN BIS 2004 will also welcome distinguished business delegates from China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, and the US. Delegates will network at a Heads-of-State lunch meeting and also at private sessions with Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
ASEAN BIS 2004 precedes the 10th ASEAN Summit on November 29 - 30, 2004.
This year's Summit also marks the first time that the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) will conduct private dialogue sessions with business leaders and delegates from Japan and the USA.
Organised by the ASEAN BAC and supported by the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN CCI), ASEAN BIS 2004 is a forum for business leaders to discuss, form strategic partnerships and facilitate trade activities within the ASEAN region and beyond.
This year's theme, "Leveraging on agriculture and tourism to promote ASEAN economic integration", aims to foster closer collaborations among ASEAN businesses and governments.
Chairman of the ASEAN BAC, Mr Oudet Souvannavong, said, "ASEAN BIS 2004 in Laos will bring together the region's top minds of government officials and business leaders who are committed to grow ASEAN trade. We look forward to further progress and expanded intra-ASEAN investment possibilities."
Summit Highlights
Launch of ASEAN Pioneer Project Scheme (APPS)
The APPS is a partnership between ASEAN governments and ASEAN BAC to fast track the growth SMEs into ASEAN MNCs. It will facilitate regulatory procedures such as custom clearance, technical regulations and product standards etc, for ASEAN indigenous companies to establish businesses in the region. The APPS will be presented at the Summit by ASEAN BAC Chairman, Mr Oudet Souvannavong.
ASEAN BIS Heads-of-States Lunch
ASEAN Leaders will meet ASEAN BAC council members, private sector representatives and delegates at an exclusive lunch organised on November 28.
ASEAN Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Exhibition
A valuable platform for SMEs seeking to expand regionally and who want to showcase their products and services, as well as network with regional business counterparts.
ASEAN-Lao Art & Handicraft Exhibition
Traditional art and handicraft products from the ASEAN and Mekong region will be exhibited to promote the handicraft industry.
Private Dialogue Sessions
Private sector dialogue sessions for Japan and US business delegates. Companies attending these sessions from Japan include Kashima Corp and Matsushita Electric. Companies from the US include IBM, FedEx, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Oracle, Del Monte and Guardian Industries.
For more information, please visit the ASEAN BIS 2004 website at http://www.aseanbis2004.com.
About ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ASEAN BIS)
ASEAN BAC initiated the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in 2003. The regional annual event seeks to facilitate trade and investment between the business communities within ASEAN and explore intra-ASEAN and ASEAN-plus business opportunities. The Summit fosters exchange of views between ASEAN private sector and government leaders.
ASEAN BIS 2004 is sponsored by Platinum sponsors: ASEAN Secretariat, DHL Express, Proton (Malaysia); Gold sponsors: Keppel Corporation Ltd, Lane Xang Minerals Ltd and Silver sponsor: Beerlao
About ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC)
The ASEAN Business Advisory Council was launched in April 2003 in Jakarta, Indonesia by the ASEAN Leaders. The ASEAN BAC is a grouping of ASEAN's most prominent businessmen, handpicked by ASEAN Leaders and approved by National Chambers of Commerce And Industry, to serve ASEAN Leaders as the primary vehicle for private sector feedback and guidance.
About ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN CCI)
ASEAN-CCI, representing the chambers of commerce and industry of the ASEAN countries, supports ASEAN in its pursuit of effective measures for regional economic cooperation. Its roles include accelerating the economic growth and progress in the region through joint approaches, endeavours and actions to strengthen the foundation and coordination for the enhancement of the communities of ASEAN.
For media enquiries, please contact:
ASEAN BIS Secretariat
Ms Adelind Tay
[email protected]
Hill & Knowlton
Ms Lim Chwen Yiing
DID: +65 6390 3355
[email protected]
Pamela Tor Das
Associate
Hill & Knowlton Singapore
p: +65 6390 3330
f: +65 6339 2738
[email protected] End.