Global Access Debates And Deals To Take Centre Stage At Abis 2025

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The Asean Business and Investment Summit 2025 offers companies a rare chance to gain market insights, raise policy concerns with global leaders, and build networks.
Nazir Razak, who chairs the Asean Business Advisory Council (ABAC), said the Asean Business and Investment Summit would provide a great platform for networking and connecting with Asean and global leaders.KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) has been “elevated” this year to give businesses greater access to leaders and to each other, while opening the floor for frank discussions on Asean’s future
Nazir Razak, who chairs the Asean Business Advisory Council (ABAC), told FMT that the 2025 edition raises the bar with more structured business-to-business facilities, including private meeting spaces and an app to pre-book appointments.
ABIS will feature panels and fireside chats with heads of state and major institutions, providing critical insight into Asean while offering direct engagement with global figures who influence markets.
“It’s very rare that you get the opportunity to do both – to meet businesses and also engage leaders on key issues,” said Nazir.
“It’s a great platform for business leaders to network among themselves, while also connecting with Asean and global leaders.
“All the leaders have agreed to join fireside chats instead of delivering pre-scripted speeches,” Nazir said. “Speeches are limited, but fireside chats allow deeper discussion on the real issues.”
This year’s summit also promises sharper panel discussions that focus on pressing regional concerns, with smaller line-ups designed to allow deeper engagement with each panellist’s expertise.
Notable speakers include deputy international trade and industry minister Liew Chin Tong, Oxford University professor of global economic governance Ngaire Woods, and Mastercard vice-chairman and president of strategic growth, ambassador Jon Huntsman.
Alongside the “must-listen” session on Asean centrality and geoeconomics, Nazir highlighted panels on regional capital and financing as a major draw.
“One investment session will bring together C-suites from Singapore’s Temasek, Malaysia’s EPF, and Indonesia’s Danantara, among others,” he said. “That’s nearly US$3 trillion of assets under management represented on one panel.”
Beyond profit
The summit will also examine philanthropy, following ABAC’s Asean Corporate Giving report which noted a decline in charitable giving in the region.
It will further explore why certain industries – such as entertainment, music, and film – struggle to cross borders despite Asean’s integrated market.
Nazir said ABIS was a chance to reflect on both Asean’s achievements and its shortcomings.
“Asean has done well, but could have done much better. Our job is to figure out how to ensure Asean performs better going forward,” he said, citing challenges such as development gaps, digitalisation, and sustainable growth.
He added that global shifts made this reflection all the more urgent.
“The emerging new world order brings opportunities. One is geopolitics, and another is artificial intelligence. Initially, we thought the cost of AI was too high and that we would only be users rather than innovators.
“Then came the DeepSeek moment, which showed us that we (developing countries) can also play a leadership role in certain segments of AI.”
Nazir said issues ranging from finance to culture and philanthropy to technology would all be tackled in depth at the summit – underscoring ABIS’s dual role as a marketplace for business and a forum for big ideas on Asean’s future.
ABIS will take place at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur, from Oct 25 to 26.
For participation details, visit https://abis.aseanbac.com.my. - FMT

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