Fifth ASEAN-UK Economic Ministers Consultation in Kuala Lumpur

The fifth ASEAN Economic Ministers Consultation was held on 25 September 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, co-chaired by H.E. Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz (Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia) and Minister Liz Lloyd (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, UK).

• Main announcement/action: The meeting reviewed ASEAN-UK economic cooperation and progress under the ASEAN-UK Work Plan, noting UK-ASEAN trade of £53.9 billion (four quarters to end Q1 2025) and UK FDI into ASEAN of USD 18.7 billion in 2024; the meeting recorded that 95 activities across 11 priority areas involving 22 ASEAN Sectoral Bodies were completed since 2024 with an additional 80 activities planned, and noted that all three pillars of the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme (EIP) are now operational.

  • Date: 25 September 2025
  • Time: not specified in the source
  • Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Agenda/subject: review of the ASEAN-UK Work Plan and Joint Ministerial Declaration on Future Economic Cooperation; discussions on trade, FDI, EIP implementation, supply chain resilience, digital innovation, MSMEs, sustainable finance, and semiconductor supply chain initiatives.

• Background and implementation details: The meeting highlighted UK support programmes and initiatives including ASPIRE (impact analysis for AEC Blueprint 2025), ARVC II, AIPBI, the ASEAN Green Investment Catalyst (launched December 2024), support for AFISS and semiconductor industry workshops, promotion of DEFA, skills and education programmes (ASLIP, ASEAN Chevening, ASEAN Women in STEM, RIDA, ASEAN i-Teams), and MSME/women entrepreneur support (SheTrades Outlook, AWEN). The meeting agreed to review and update the Work Plan in 2026, referenced cooperation on WTO reform ahead of MC14 in Cameroon in March 2026, and reaffirmed support for Timor-Leste’s Roadmap to full ASEAN membership with continued capacity building and technical assistance.