ASEANcham-EU Seminar:
What does the new global order mean for ASEAN-EU trade and economic relations?
Co-organised by
ASEANcham-EU & UBI Business School
in partnership with
The Mission of Singapore to the EU
(as current Chair of the ASEAN Brussels Committee)
Thursday, 13 November 2025, 4pm – 6pm
UBI Business School (Rue de Namur 48, 1000 Brussels)
Preamble
Global trade is undergoing a fundamental transformation, fuelled by geopolitical shifts, evolving regulatory frameworks, and emerging technological advancements. From tariffs and supply chain shocks to growing pressure on multilateral institutions like the WTO and UN to prove their relevance, governments and businesses alike are navigating an increasingly fragmented trade and economic landscape. For ASEAN and the EU, this uncertainty brings both risks and opportunities and calls for dialogue on how to adapt.
ASEAN is the EU’s third-largest trading partner in goods, with total merchandise trade reaching €252.5 billion in 2023, while EU foreign direct investment in ASEAN has exceeded €330 billion, making the EU a long-term anchor of investment and industrial development in the region. Both sides also count the US and China as their biggest trade and investment partners.
This seminar gathers regional voices from business, policy, and academia to reflect on the broader shifts shaping trade policy today, and to explore what’s next for ASEAN–EU economic ties. From tariff volatility to evolving FTA frameworks, the panel discussions seek to unpack how firms and governments can position themselves amid rising global uncertainty.
Objectives
The seminar seeks to:
- Provide a timely platform to explore the implications of rising global trade tensions on ASEAN–EU economic relations.
- Examine how businesses and policymakers in ASEAN and the EU can adapt to the evolving global trade environment, including changes in US trade policy and its knock-on effects.
- Discuss the future of trade governance, the role of regional agreements, and opportunities for stronger ASEAN–EU collaboration amid uncertainty.
- Connect key stakeholders from government, business, and academia to exchange views and strengthen the ASEAN–EU economic dialogue.
Agenda
| Time | Programme |
| 15:30–16:00 | Open for registration |
| 16:00–16:05 | Welcome remarks
Mr Desmond YAP, Deputy Managing Director of UBI Business School |
| 16:05–16:10 | Opening remarks
H.E. LIM Hong Huai, Ambassador of Singapore to the EU and as Chair of the ASEAN Brussels Committee |
|
16:10 –16:55 |
Panel 1: Navigating the geopolitical landscape – Strategic partnerships, Multilateralism, and long-term cooperation.
Moderated by Ms Lin GOETHALS, Director, European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) Followed by Q&A |
| 16:55 – 17:10 | Coffee break |
|
17:10 – 17:55 |
Panel 2: Overcoming EU-ASEAN Trade challenges, opportunities through FTAs
Moderated by Dr Gaston FORNES, Dean of UBI Followed by Q&A |
| 17:55 – 18:00 | Closing Remarks & Event Wrap-Up
· H.E. Ambassador (ret.) Andrew JACOBS, Advisory Board member of ASEANcham-EU |
| 18:00 – 19:00 | Networking Reception
· Sponsored by UBI Business School & Thai Café |
Registration Details
[FULLY SUBSCRIBED] On-site*: https://aseancham-eu.idloom.events/hybrid-seminar-on-what-does-the-new-global-order-mean-for-asean-eu-trade-and-economic-relations
* Please note that the venue has limited seats so your on-site attendance needs to be confirmed by the organisers. In case the capacity is full, we will be pleased to invite you to attend the event online.
Online:
Register in advance for attending online
https://ubi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/T5YWZk77To-g9rOAN9Rwow
with support from
European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS)
Member Sponsor
Thai Café
Pictures and bios
- Speaker’s bios
H.E. Lim Hong Huai
H.E. Ambassador Lim Hong Huai is the Ambassador of Singapore to the EU, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. He is also currently the Chair of the Brussels ASEAN Committee (until Dec 2025). He was Singapore’s High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam from March 2016 to November 2020. Prior to this, he was Director-General of the Southeast Asia I Directorate. Ambassador Lim joined the Singapore Foreign Service in 1994. He has served in various capacities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs covering the Middle East, Americas, International Organisations and Southeast Asia. He has also served at the Singapore Consulate-General in Johor Bahru, the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta, and the Singapore Embassy in Washington DC. Ambassador Lim graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the National University of Singapore in 1994. He obtained a Masters of Laws from Harvard University, United States of America in 2005.
H.E. Michael Matthiessen
H.E. Ambassador (ret.) Michael Matthiessen Ambassador Michael Matthiessen is the current Vice-Chair of ASEANCham. He is a recently retired senior EU official with a distinguished diplomatic career spanning over almost 39 years. Michael Matthiessen started as a Danish diplomat for 17 years (working in different capacities for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also in the Prime Minister’s Office), followed by 22 years as a senior EU official. He served in the EU, first as a member of the Policy Unit of the High Representative, and then as Director for Civilian Crisis Management in the Council of the European Union. At the creation of the EU External Action Service (EEAS) he became Director for Parliamentary Affairs. Michael has vast experience in EU matters as well as in EU-Asia relations. His interest and expertise on Asia grew when he was posted to Singapore as the EU Visiting Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (2012-2013). He returned to Brussels after 10 months and was appointed the EU coordinator for the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). In this capacity he was instrumental in organising the ASEM Summit in Milan and the Foreign Ministers Meeting in Luxembourg, and also actively involved in the Summit in Ulan Bator hosted by Mongolia. He was also involved in the various side events, not least the Business and Youth Summits.
Mr Desmond Yap
Mr Desmond Yap is the Deputy Managing Director of UBI Business School. Established in 1992 in Brussels, UBI is a globally connected institution offering business and management programmes across campuses in Brussels, Luxembourg, Shanghai, Madrid, and Guatemala. UBI’s educational model is built on good citizenship, global mindset, and technology management, supported by strategic partnerships with leading institutions worldwide. Programmes are taught in English, Chinese, and Spanish, and complies with QAA and EHEA standards. UBI is a member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), Business Graduates Association (BGA), and the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). UBI’s HyFlex courses are EOCCS-certified by EFMD, one of 32 institutions worldwide. Prior to joining UBI, Mr Yap served in Singapore’s Ministry of Education. He holds a BA in Linguistics from National University of Singapore and MA in Digital Education from University of Leeds.
Panellists’ bios
H.E. Dato’ Mohd Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak
His Excellency Dato’ Khalid is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Belgium and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Head of Mission of Malaysia to the European Union. Prior to his present appointment in Brussels, he was the Undersecretary of Europe Division, MFA since 2020. Before that, he was the Ambassador of Malaysia to Argentina (2017-2020), Consul General of Malaysia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2011-2015) and Consul General of Malaysia in Karachi, Pakistan (2008-2011). He also had an assignment at the Embassy of Malaysia in Seoul, Republic of Korea (2000-2013). At the MFA, he served as the Undersecretary of West Asia Division and was also assigned to the Southeast Asia Division, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) National Secretariat, ASEAN Department and Economics Division. He holds a Masters in Business and Economics from Korea University (2000) and a Degree in Political Science from National University of Malaysia (UKM) (1994).
MEP Wouter Beke
Wouter Beke (born 9 August 1974 in Lommel, Belgium) is a Belgian politician from the Christian Democratic and Flemish party (CD&V) and a member of the European Parliament for the European People’s Party. He is chair of the Delegation for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN (DASE) and serves on the Foreign Affairs (AFET), Security and Defence (SEDE), and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) committees. Before joining the European Parliament in 2024, Beke held several key positions in Belgian politics, including Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health, Family and Poverty Reduction (2019–2022) and Federal Minister for Work, Economy and Consumer Affairs (2019). He was also mayor of Leopoldsburg from 2013 to 2024 and previously served in both the Belgian Senate and the Federal House of Representatives. Beke holds a PhD in Social Sciences from the Catholic University of Leuven and was made Knight of the Order of Leopold in 2010.
H.E. Leo Faber
H.E. Ambassador (ret.) Leo Faber is the current Vice-Chairs of ASEANCham-EU, overseeing the external relations of the Chamber. He has spent most of his career as a Luxembourg diplomat in Asia, in China, Vietnam and Laos. He was Head of the European Union Delegation in Laos from 2016 to 2020. He also served as a Deputy Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as at the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the United Nations in New York. Mr. Faber has extensive experience in development cooperation, human rights and intercultural dialogue.
Aitor Montesa Lloreda
Aitor Montesa Lloreda is a lawyer and trade expert. He currently serves as Deputy Head of Unit for South and South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand in the Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security of the European Commission, where he oversees the EU’s trade relations and negotiations with several Indo-Pacific partners. He was previously Deputy Head of Unit for Regulatory Cooperation and Public Procurement, where he contributed to the EU’s efforts to open international procurement markets and strengthen cooperation with global partners on regulatory matters. Before that, he led the Digital Trade sector and acted as the EU’s lead negotiator for services and investment, taking part in several key bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations. Before joining the European Commission, he worked as a Référendaire at the Court of Justice of the European Union, an experience that consolidated his legal background and his practical understanding of the EU’s institutional and trade policy framework.
Dr. Marcelo Leporati
Dr. Marcelo Leporati is Dean of Undergraduate Programmes and Learning technolgoies at UBI Business School. Previously he was Associate Dean of International Relations and Research at EAE Business School in Madrid and also served on the Babson Collaborative Advisory Board between 2022 and 2025. He has authored numerous publications, including books, academic journal articles, and conference papers. His research encompasses a wide array of topics such as supply chain management, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Leporati’s work has significantly advanced academic knowledge in these fields. He is also recognized as a distinguished educator, with expertise in finance and supply chain management. In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Leporati has extensive corporate experience, having held leadership roles in various multinational corporations
Di-Ting Shih
Di-Ting Shih is the Managing Director of Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) Europe, a part of the larger CP Group. CP Group, founded in 1921 in Bangkok, is Thailand’s largest conglomerate. It operates a vertically integrated business that includes feed production, livestock and aquaculture farming, and processed food manufacturing, with a significant international presence. As global leader in fully integrated agribusiness with worldwide operation and distribution, CP Group’s ambition is to be “The Kitchen of the World” with the responsibility of protecting the planet. CP Group drives innovation in food safety, high animal welfare standards, labor ethics and net zero ambition by 2050 to offer the best food to worldwide consumers.
Hibiki Kimura
Hibiki Kimura is an international trade lawyer at Nishimura and Asahi Brussels. Having worked in Tokyo for six years as an international trade lawyer, he was seconded to the Japan Business Council in Europe, the largest business association of Japanese businesses in the EU, in 2023. He currently helps Asian businesses navigate complex EU supply chain regulations and minimise the impact of uncertainty in the international trade order. His areas of focus include international trade law, competition law, and EU supply chain regulations in the context of decarbonisation, the circular economy, and sustainability.
Natasha Yokoyama
Since February 2024, Natasha Yokoyama has served as First Secretary (Economics) at the Singapore Embassy to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and Mission to the European Union (EU). In her current role, Natasha covers EU trade and industrial policy, and works to advance Singapore’s economic relations with the EU, as well as with the Benelux countries.
Before assuming her current post, Natasha was a trade negotiator in the Europe and Central Asia Division as well as the Green Economy Agreement Division at the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry. She was involved in several trade negotiations related to the digital and green economies, including the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement, EFTA-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, and the Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement.
Moderators’ bios
Lin Goethals
Lin Goethals is the Director of the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS), a Brussels-based think tank and policy research centre focusing on EU-Asia Relations. She is also an Associated Research Fellow at the ESSCA School of Management EU-Asia Institute in Angers, France, a Member of the Mercator Advisory Council of the Flemish Ministry of Mobility and Public Works, and member of the Advisory Board of the Student Think Tank for Europe-Asia Relations (STEAR). She holds an MA in Political Sciences and International Relations from Ghent University, Belgium. In 2013-2018, she was based in China, conducting research on EU-China relations. During that period, she was based at Beijing Normal University and affiliated to Ghent University, as well as for shorter research periods at the Centre for European Studies at Peking University, and the European Union Centre in Taiwan at the National Taiwan University. In her position at EIAS Director she closely follows the relations between the EU and Asia, including with ASEAN.
Dr Gaston Fornes
Dr Gaston Fornes is Dean at UBI Business School. He started his professional career at the Citibank and then funded what became a mid-sized company with operations in Chile and Argentina. Since 2005 he has combined academic and executive responsibilities. Also in 2005 he started to be professionally involved with China where in 2010, for his work in the development and internationalisation of SMEs, he received the Liupan Mountain Friendship Award from the Ningxia Government for his “contribution to Ningxia’s economy and society”, and then in 2014 he received the Foreign Expert Award from the Shanghai Government. After this Prof Fornes was awarded the London School of Economics –Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) Fellowship and the High-End Foreign Expert by Shanghai University.
