New Asean Business Club

Back in May 2011, some regional business leaders announced their plans to form an Asean Business Club (ABC), which will be positioned as a fully private sector-driven initiative for Asean's major home-grown corporations to come together and fully engage in Asean's community building efforts.

With its tagline "Asean: Open for Business", the private sector-driven club, which is the brainchild of an advisory council of 10 prominent Asean businessmen (including CIMB Group CEO Datuk Seri Nazir Razak and AirAsia Bhd group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes from Malaysia) was officially formed in November 2011.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was in his element at the launch of the Asean Business Club in Kuala Lumpur to deliver the keynote address. His speech, titled "Lessons from Europe: Regional Integration in a New World Order," was timely and appropriate.

Sources: Regional corporate captains plan new Asean Business Club http://www.thesundaily.my/news/business/regional-corporate-captains-plan-new-asean-business-club Asean Business Club formed http://www.thesundaily.my/news/202039 Former British PM Makes Case for Asean Economic Integration http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/bisworld/former-british-pm-makes-case-for-asean-economic-integration/475619