Australia-ASEAN Business Forum opens in Adelaide

The 2026 Australia-ASEAN Business Forum opened in Adelaide on September 29, bringing together government and industry leaders to discuss trade, investment, and regional economic cooperation. Under the theme ‘Deepening Australia-ASEAN Economic Integration in a Changing Global Landscape’, the forum focuses on delivering practical commercial outcomes.

Key discussion topics include energy security and the transition to green energy, digital technology, artificial intelligence, food security, agribusiness, and workforce development. ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn emphasized that in an era of geopolitical tension and economic rivalry, open markets and trusted partnerships are essential for supply chain resilience and strategic confidence.

Business Council of Australia CEO Bran Black noted that Southeast Asia is Australia’s second-largest trading partner, with trade reaching $200 billion in 2025. The forum aligns with Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which seeks to strengthen two-way investment and economic ties across the region.