On behalf of the co-organizers the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels (Chair of the ASEAN Brussels Committee), the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) and the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce to the EU (ASEANcham-EU), we would like to invite you to the ASEAN – EU Business Forum with a networking lunch reception that will be hosted by our corporate member Thai Café on Thursday 4th June 2026 from 10.00 to 14.00 and honoured by the presence of the ASEAN (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam), EU, BE officials.
This exclusive event aims to get the officials from ASEAN, EU and Belgium together with the Business community in order to strengthen the economic relations and mutual understanding, meet new representatives, explore business opportunities and connect with the ASEAN – EU bubble in Brussels.
Venue:
Thai Café Wemmel
Steenweg op Brussel 397
1780 Wemmel
Belgium
Programme:
- 09:30 Welcome drinks and Registration
PART I – Presentation – MC: Mr. Sieb Hoogstra, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)
- 10:00 Welcoming remarks by H.E. Mr. Michael Matthiessen, former EU Ambassador, former EU Governor in the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and Vice-Chair of ASEANcham EU
- 10:10 Opening Remarks by Thailand Ambassador H.E. Mrs. Kanchana Patarachoke
- Global geopolitical developments and impact to the wider ASEAN-EU trade and investment relations
- 10:20 Strengthening the Relations and enhancing Trade and Investment Collaboration between ASEAN and the EU by Ms. Leila Stembridge-Fernandez, Head of Division, Southeast Asia & ASEAN, European External Action Service (EEAS)
- 10:30 Strengthening EU–ASEAN Economic Ties: How investment in ASEAN is supported
– Example from BOI Thailand by Ms. Romrawee Chandrasen
– Example from DTI Philippines by Ms. Magnolia M. Ashley - 10:50 Short Testimonials by 2 EU companies on doing business in ASEAN
- 11:00 Impacts of EU policies and regulations on ASEAN trade to the EU by Ms. Müge Afacan, Advisory Board member of ASEANcham EU
PART II – Panel discussion
- Panel 1 – 11:10 Competing in the New Trade Order: FTAs as a Strategic Response to Global Tariff Shifts
Moderator: Mr. Joses Wong, Secretary-General of ASEANcham EU
Panelists:
- Mr. Wouter Beke, EU MEP and Chair of the Parliament’s relations with ASEAN
- H.E. Mr. Jaime Victor B. Ledda, the Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the European Union (PH Chair in the ASEAN)
- H.E. Mr. Andrew Jacobs, former EU Ambassador and Advisory Board member of ASEANcham EU
- Panel 2 – 11:40 Business development perspectives from ASEAN companies established in the EU and dialogue with EU DG Trade
Moderator: Mr. Sieb Hoogstra, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)
Panelists:
- Mr. Aitor Montesa Lloreda, EU DG Trade
- Mr. Hibiki Kimura, Nishimura & Asahi Brussels
- Mr. Di-Ting Shih, CPF Europe
- Mr. TzeErn Liew, Sluys INTL
- 12:10 ASEAN Airline – Thai Airways: Connecting ASEAN and Europe in a Challenging Aviation Landscape
- 12:20 Conclusion by ASEANCham EU
- 12:25 Closing words by Thai Café
PART III – Reception
- 12:30 Networking lunch
- 14:00 End of event
Dress code: Smart casual
Registration fee: 50 EUR exVAT for members / 75 EUR exVAT for non-members
Benefits:
– Networking event
– Lunch menu (starters & main courses in rice table style) comprising:
• Welcome drink (Champagne or Orange juice)
Starters:
• Kai Satay
• Samosas (veggie)
• Tod man Pla
• Kai Hor Bai Toey
Main courses:
• Laab Kai
• Pad Med Mamuand (veggie)
• Koong Kio Man
• Pad Thai
• Soft drinks
See the food description in the restaurant > menu <