New Zealand ASEAN Forum (ASEAN New Zealand Business Council)

New Zealand ASEAN Forum (ASEAN New Zealand Business Council)

What took New Zealand and ASEAN a year in 1975 now happens in just three days: $220m in two-way trade. This week’s ASEAN Forum celebrated 50 years of ASEAN–New Zealand relations, with a bold new goal to double trade to $50 billion.

Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay highlighted why this relationship matters, pointing to the complementary strengths of ASEAN and New Zealand across food, manufacturing, education, and tech. Chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council for Malaysia, Tan Sri Nazir Razak, framed it in global terms – a “time of monsters” as the old order shifts, where ASEAN must integrate, diversify, and push ahead on digital and trade agreements.
The business panels brought the lessons to life.

Gavin M. Faull (Swiss-Belhotel International) reflected on his five decades of work in the region, saying trust is the most critical currency, alongside cultural understanding and win-win partnerships. Michelle Noordermeer (CarbonClick) echoed this, stressing the importance of being present in-market to build credibility and navigate hierarchies.

Singaporean entrepreneur Jerel Kwek founded Addiction Pet Foods, a New Zealand manufacturer of pet food that exports to the world. He urged Kiwi firms to treat ASEAN not just as a market but as a partner, to move up the value chain, embrace innovation and use technology like AI to overcome complexity and drive growth.

It was great to MC such a fantastic event. Congratulations to the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council for making it happen.