The UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) was created out of UKTI’s 2011 Strategy ‘Britain Open for Business’ and launched by Dr Vince Cable in November 2011. The underlying purpose of the UKABC is to facilitate a step change in the level of trade between the UK and Southeast Asia, and through this contributing towards UKTI’s ambition to support 50,000 SMEs and increase UK exports to £1trn by 2020. With a particular focus on the SME community the UKABC runs a programme of awareness raising outreach activity aimed at improving understanding of the business opportunities in the ASEAN region, as well as giving practical advice and guidance on how to go about doing business there. The Business Council also provides roundtable and structured business-to-business networking opportunities with senior political and commercial decision makers who are visiting the UK from Southeast Asia.
