BRICS-ASEAN Business Round Table 2026

A one-day multilateral round-table dialogue on Trade, Investment, Economy & Strategic Partnership — attended by Ambassadors, Trade Commissioners, GLCs and Corporate Leaders. Sunday, 23 August 2026, 9.00am to 5.00pm. Participation by invitation only.

Welcome to the First BRICS-ASEAN Round Table Multilateral Dialogue

Dear Delegates, Corporate Leaders, Hon. Trade Commissioners & H.E. Ambassadors…

We take liberty in introducing the BRICS-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce as the trade organisation representing the inter-governmental organisations of BRICS and ASEAN nations. Representing the private sectors of the BRICS and ASEAN nations, we take pride in playing that pivotal and leading role in Bridging Opportunities as our prime objective.

BRICS and ASEAN are strategic partners because they are highly complementary in terms of economics, demographics, geography, resources, technology and geopolitical influence. Together, they represent one of the world's most significant growth engines — a demographic of over 4 billion people and a market economy of USD 28 trillion in terms of GDP.

A Shared Vision — Five Core Pillars

• Shared Prosperity through expanded trade and investment.
• Economic Resilience via diversified supply chains and financial cooperation.
• Innovation through collaboration in science, technology and digital transformation.
• Sustainable Development by advancing food, energy and environmental security.
• Regional Stability through dialogue, cooperation and mutually beneficial development.

“May I bid all of you a successful dialogue and a cordial business relations.”
Thayalan Nathan — President, BRICS-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce & Executive Chairman, BRICS-ASEAN Independent Commission for Trade & Economy

Program — Sunday, 23 August 2026 (Tentative)

Time	Session
8.00 am	Registration of Delegates, Networking & Breakfast
9.00 am	Welcome Address: “Bridging Opportunities” — The Role of Trade Commissioners by Thayalan Nathan, President, BRICS-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce
9.20 am	Address: India-Malaysia & India-ASEAN Relations by H.E. Somnath Ghosh, High Commissioner of India to Malaysia
9.40 am	Keynote: Malaysia Plays Host as the Strategic Partner for Investment Coordination for BRICS & ASEAN Nations Presented & Moderated by YM. Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Chairman, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). Q&A / Open Discussion.
10.10 am	Soft Launch: BRICS-ASEAN Independent Commission for Trade & Economy (BA.ICTE) — Presentation of Trade Commissioner appointments and VIP mementos.
10.30 am	Tea / Coffee Break & Networking
11.00 am	Round Table Discussion 1: BRICS-ASEAN Economic Cooperation — The Way Forward. Moderated by Chairman, ASEAN Business Advisory Council.
12.00 noon	Round Table Discussion 2: “Make it India” — Business, Trade & Investment Opportunities. Moderated by Sanjeev Kumar Bansal, Chairman, India-ASEAN Business Council & Head of Indian Delegation to Malaysia.
1.30 pm	Lunch & Networking
2.30 pm	Business Pitching Session — To Sell / To Buy / To Seek JVs & Partnership (3 minutes per delegate). MoU Signing Ceremony & Awards Ceremony.
4.30 pm	Marshall Jefferson University, USA — Asian Graduation Ceremony

Part 1 — BRICS-ASEAN Economic Integration: Opportunities

Malaysia sits at the geometric and strategic heart of Southeast Asia, making it the ideal “springboard” to bridge the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and recent expanders) with the ASEAN market.

1. Economic Powerhouse & Market Access

• Unprecedented Scale: A BRICS-ASEAN alignment represents an economic corridor of over 4 billion people (more than 50% of the world's population) with a combined GDP exceeding USD 28 trillion.
• Complementary Economies: BRICS strengths (abundant resources, massive capital, large consumer markets) meet ASEAN's strengths (strategic trade routes, robust manufacturing, logistics hubs and a highly skilled workforce).

2. Strategic Geography & Trade Security

• The Malacca Strait Anchor: Malaysia controls access to the Malacca Strait — the vital choke point connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans — positioning the country as a literal physical gateway for BRICS goods entering Southeast Asia.
• Food & Energy Supply Chains: Integration allows shared strategic reserves, renewable-energy partnerships and agricultural-productivity improvements to protect regional supply from global volatility.

3. Financial & Technological Infrastructure

• De-dollarisation & Local Currency Settlement: Advancing local-currency settlements and cross-border payment architectures to reduce reliance on the US Dollar.
• Tech Innovation Hub: Malaysia's established electronics and semiconductor ecosystem is a prime sandbox for joint BRICS-ASEAN development in AI, Fintech, EVs and telecommunications.

Part 2 — “Make It India” Business & Investment Opportunities

1. High-Growth Sectors for Investment

• Target Industries: 25 identified growth sectors — automobiles, chemicals, IT, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, biotechnology, electronics.
• Digitalisation & Automation: A booming market for vocational-training infrastructure and tech-driven supply chains as India steps into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

2. Policy Incentives & Ease of Doing Business

• Production-Linked Incentives (PLI): Direct cash incentives to MNCs establishing manufacturing bases in India.
• Corporate Tax Reductions: Base corporate tax slashed to 15% for new manufacturing units to attract FDI.
• Mitigating Logistics Challenges: Centralised state “land banks” for rapid factory setup, and federal spending overhauling road and rail logistics.

3. Geopolitical Supply Chain Diversification

• The “China+1” Strategy: India presents itself as the primary, highly scalable alternative to diversify sourcing.
• Linking Production to Global Export: India's domestic market as a testing ground while its trade networks export finished goods to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Key Takeaways for Delegates

1. Operationalising the “Global South” Voice — first-hand alignment on how BRICS and ASEAN intend to reform legacy global governance (IMF, World Bank, WTO).
2. De-risking & Supply Chain Autonomy — how to maintain lucrative Western trade ties while embedding in the resource-rich BRICS-ASEAN economic corridor.
3. Blueprint for Financial Sovereignty — concrete frameworks for Local Currency Settlements (LCS), cross-border digital payment interoperability, and alternative liquidity via the New Development Bank (NDB).
4. Cross-Bloc Technological Sandboxes — visibility into joint initiatives on semiconductors, EV manufacturing, green finance and unified AI governance.

Elite Networking Opportunities

• Direct Access to Sovereign Decision-Makers — government officials, ambassadors and heads of investment agencies.
• G2B Fast-Tracking — pitch infrastructure, technology or energy solutions directly to state planners.
• B2B Synergistic Alliances — connect with CEOs and institutional investors executing diversification strategies.
• Peer-Level Strategic Corridors — international trade councils, cross-border finance and technology innovators across both blocs.

Soft Launch — BRICS-ASEAN Independent Commission for Trade & Economy (BA.ICTE)

The dialogue will also mark the Soft Launch of BA.ICTE under Founding & Incorporation Charter No. 0105(26) — an autonomous, non-political, multilateral trade-facilitation and economic-coordinating body representing independent members from BRICS, ASEAN, partner nations and institutional members.

Vision: To become the premier independent, inter-regional platform driving sustainable trade, investment, finance and economic integration between BRICS, ASEAN and global economies.

Mission: To facilitate bilateral and multilateral trade & business opportunities; promote cross-border investments and strategic partnerships; enhance economic diplomacy through accredited Trade Commissioners; support inclusive, digital and sustainable economic development; propagate wealth creation, sustainability and sharing; and play the role of diplomatic mediator or “Peace Makers” for global trade, economy, geo-politics and social reform.

Strong Partnership. Sustainable Growth. Shared Prosperity.