As Malaysia reaches the halfway point of its ASEAN Chairmanship, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) has reaffirmed strong progress on its 12 flagship initiatives, while announcing key corporate sponsors for the upcoming ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) and ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) 2025.
Led this year by ASEAN-BAC Malaysia under the chairmanship of Tan Sri Nazir Razak, the Council is championing a bold agenda to deepen regional economic integration and advance private-sector priorities across Southeast Asia.
Speaking at a media briefing today, Tan Sri Nazir said the Council’s initiatives have steadily progressed through formal consultations with ASEAN policy bodies, including at the 31st ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat and the 12th ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM). A formal dialogue with ASEAN leaders is scheduled at the upcoming 46th ASEAN Summit later this month.
“This is a pivotal time for ASEAN to come together, deepen integration, and enhance economic and financial cooperation,” Nazir stated. “The current global uncertainties pose substantial challenges for businesses across the region and underline the imperative of greater ASEAN economic integration. If we cannot turbo-charge ASEAN integration now, when can we?”
Among the key initiatives highlighted was the ASEAN Business Entity (ABE) Framework, which seeks to create a new cross-border corporate classification to ease business operations across ASEAN markets. Other notable proposals include:
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ASEAN Common Carbon Market Initiative, promoting the harmonisation of carbon credit markets through the newly established Malaysia Carbon Market Association (MCMA),
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ASEAN IPO Prospectus, aimed at harmonising capital-raising regulations to support regional enterprises, and
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A bold cultural branding move to rebrand the SEA Games as the “ASEAN Games.”
These efforts are aligned with the broader ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan 2025–2045, and reflect ASEAN-BAC’s commitment to positioning the private sector as a key driver of regional growth.
In preparation for its signature events this October, ASEAN-BAC Malaysia also revealed a robust lineup of sponsors for ABIS 2025 and the ABA 2025, which will take place alongside the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 25–26 October.
Seven companies – Capital A Berhad, CIMB Group Holdings Berhad, Mastercard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd. (Malaysia Branch), Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad, TikTok Pte. Ltd., The Weststar Group, and Yinson Holdings Berhad – have signed on as Titanium Sponsors. Additional sponsors include Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad, Genting Malaysia Berhad, Permodalan Nasional Berhad, UEM Group Berhad, and United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Berhad.
“These companies reflect the best of Malaysia and embody the spirit of regional collaboration,” said Tan Sri Nazir. “Their support sends a strong signal of confidence, not just in ASEAN-BAC’s 2025 agenda, but in ASEAN itself as a destination for investment, innovation, and inclusive growth.”
As the year progresses, ASEAN-BAC Malaysia will continue its active engagement with governments, industries, and regional institutions to transform its flagship initiatives into concrete benefits for businesses and people across ASEAN.