Dear Friends of PBEC,
As we look ahead to celebrating 58 years since the founding of PBEC in 1967, we wanted to reflect on our journey and the pivotal role each of you plays in our continued success. From our origins in California USA to our current home in Hong Kong since 2003, our commitment to fostering economic collaboration in the Asia Pacific remains steadfast.
In 2024, PBEC hosted and co-organized 32 events and meetings, significantly contributing to our community’s engagement.
In this latest annual report brought to you by the (PBEC) – Pacific Basin Economic Council, we examine the current equilibrium between strategic & voluntary initiatives at companies in Asia Pacific and compliance efforts in disclosing such emissions. The report assesses the progress and challenges faced by businesses as they strive to meet net zero targets in the coming years. This report provides an analytical overview of the scope 3 emissions reporting landscape in the region, providing insights into one of the defining corporate themes of our time, and a look at how companies in Asia Pacific are responding.
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We are delighted to announce the appointment of Allen Lim to the Board of Directors of Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC) effective on August 1, 2025. Most recently, he was the Global CFO & Board Member with Plaza Premium Group (PPG) with global presence in 35+ countries in 70+ cities where he extended leadership to its global strategic growth and expansion, strengthen its business model and value propositions, transformed its global back-office, successfully navigated the group through the global covid…
The Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC) is pleased to welcome Sam Chau as our new Deputy Executive Director. Sam brings a strong commitment to fostering cross-border collaboration and developing solutions for shared challenges, including geopolitical shifts, technological change, and intergenerational equity. In his role, Sam will support PBEC’s mission through Organizational Management, Stakeholder Engagement, and Strategic Research. His experience in creating operational frameworks that combine policy insight, technological awareness, and ethical considerations aligns well with PBEC’s focus on advancing prosperity…
We are delighted to announce that Ir Dr Anne Kerr OBE has been appointed to the board of directors of the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), Anne brings to PBEC her tremendous experience, where she has recently held various roles and positions within Mott MacDonald, including Managing Director of Greater China and Asia Director for Growth, and currently is their appointed Asia Executive Adviser. She has over 35 years of professional experience gained through working across over 30 countries. Her…
Sam is deeply passionate about understanding the world and creating meaningful change. His academic journey reflects this commitment, with qualifications in Legal Studies, Mass Communication, and Policy Analysis, alongside studies in classic literature and Sinology. These diverse experiences have given him a multidisciplinary perspective and a strong foundation for addressing complex global challenges. Currently, he is preparing to pursue a PhD, where his focus will be on geopolitics and its connection to sustainable development and peacebuilding. This next step will…
From China’s slowing growth to Malaysia and Singapore’s electronics-driven resilience – a new ICAEW report analyses how South-East Asia’s economies are shaping up for 2025. While China grapples with structural challenges, Malaysia and Singapore look set to benefit from global electronics demand, but face pressures from inflation, fiscal tightening and cautious consumer behaviour. That’s the conclusion of the ICAEW Economic Insight Report Q4 2024, which paints a mixed picture for the region. Prepared by Oxford Economics and supported by PBEC,…
Several senior PBEC members & board of directors attended fellow Corporate Member ICAEW Annual Gala Dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong on the 24th October. Over 260 senior executives, founders, CFO & CEO’s were in attendance co-hosted by Sir David Li Executive Chairman at Bank of East Asia & Alan Vallance the new CEO of ICAEW founded in 1880. Our own PBEC Chairman Andrew Weir MBE, BBS, JP who is a council member of ICAEW spoke at the…
New partnership is with Taiwan-headquartered Eos Rhea Metis (“ERM”), a network of experts specialising in enterprise and engineering risk management. By leveraging ERM’s extensive network across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, the partnership will provide QBE and its customers with complementary expert insights and specialised knowledge in support of engineering and property underwriting, enhanced risk assessment processes and wider market access. Read full PR here: https://enmobile.prnasia.com/releases/apac/qbe-announces-strategic-partnership-to-bolster-its-risk-engineering-capabilities-in-greater-china-465669.shtml
“PBEC wishes to express heartfelt congratulations to @Andrew Weir our Chairman as we recognise his career at KPMG upon his retirement from 32 years of service. Throughout his career, Andrew has held pivotal roles, including Regional Senior Partner of Hong Kong and Global Head of Real Estate and Asset Management. His leadership has continued to enhance PBEC’s profile, notably through his extensive professional experience servicing boards and audit committees of listed companies, financial services, public bodies and family offices in…
PBEC – Pacific Basin Economic Council is by invitation ONLY a members based institution, that supports connectivity and cross-border regulatory standardisation efforts within APAC for all technological advancements, through dialogue, engagement and collaborative efforts.
PBEC’s focus is to continual attain recognition as the most comprehensive multilateral platform for APAC business leaders to engage with, advocating key trade issues of importance under a fair rules based system, thus promoting cooperation amongst member States to achieve inclusive, sustainable economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific.
Despite the uncertainty about what lies ahead for global trade, there are still reasons for optimism about its resilience and its enduring role as a catalyst for positive change, and these are encapsulated in the current trends that are shaping the landscape.
As 2024 Q2 draws to a close, economies in Asia Pacific are facing what is projected to be a modest slowdown to approximately between 3.5% to 4.2% on average according to the IMF. But this paints over some of the risks within individual economies, such as the deeper property sector, corrections in China and Vietnam which remain important factors in both. This trend reflects macroeconomic factors but also the impact of persistent corruption and un-tethered growth of the last decade in these sectors.
Geopolitical tensions, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and security threats to shipping in the Red Sea, have continued to disrupt global supply chains, and shipping/container prices which get passed on to consumers.
ESG factors have become mainstream and are now a top concern for Boards of Directors. Proper ESG implementation can help businesses and regional Government authorities address current social cohesion challenges and seize future opportunities. On this episode of the Value Prop, we are joined by David Ching Heng Hoe, CEO of Ong & Ong Vietnam and a board member of the PBEC, who shares his insights, challenges and opportunities on the real estate sector and major infrastructure developments in the Mekong region, in particular in Vietnam and Laos, including the company’s pioneering work in social housing projects since 2007 which is now firmly on the agenda of regional Governments in SE Asia.
You have the chance to hear Andrews perspectives first-hand on this and the Asian region.
Theme: Financial Inclusion & Digitalisation When: Mon 24th Mar Feb 2025 1600-1730L (HKG/PEK/SIN/KUL) Local Time Where: Hybrid Event – KPMG, 8/F Princes Building, Central, HK Bauhinia Meeting Room All attendees are asked to kindly register here whether planning to attend online or in person: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LNPKFEk0TQqfcePR62rxDw Please email michael.walsh@pbec.org or whatsapp +8532 6014 9899 if you plan to attend physically. Available seats will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.
Theme: Building a Sustainable Tomorrow When: Tue 11th Feb 2025 1600-1730L (HKG/PEK/SIN/KUL) Local Time Where: Hybrid Event – KPMG, 8/F Princes Building, Central, HK Bauhinia Meeting Room All attendees are asked to kindly register here whether planning to attend online or in person: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2myrpM7mTGqp2Kp8njJuaw Please email michael.walsh@pbec.org or whatsapp +8532 6014 9899 if you plan to attend physically. Available seats will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.
