Australia Business Asia (ABA) is the name given to a grouping of 16 Australian chambers of commerce and business councils throughout Asia. Our mission is to provide a collective voice for Australian business operating throughout the region.
Background
Australians have been doing business in Asia for a long time, often meeting over a drink to discuss issues they were experiencing in developing their business interests.
From these very informal get-togethers, evolved business groups or chambers of commerce, providing a broader range of services to their local Australian business communities. In some cases, like Indonesia and Malaysia the emphasis has been on 2 way bilateral trade and therefore their membership reflects a strong local as well as Australian flavour.
With other chambers like in Laos, Japan, Taipei and Philippines, Australian business joined with New Zealand business to create joint chambers with stronger voices.
Finally there are the groups whose focus is on representing Australian business interests in the host country, in countries like Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong & Macau, Korea, Thailand and the chambers in Beijing, Shanghai and Fujian.
With the regionalisation and globalisation of business, the various independent groups around the region found they were being asked to comment on common issues.
The various groups had been talking about regional co-operation and had agreed on various exchange programs as early as 2001. They had associated together since 2006 on holding a regional forum, first in Singapore and then in Thailand.
At the 2010 regional forum in Hong Kong, 12 Australian business groups from across the Asia region agreed to come together under the banner Australian Business Asia. This group has since grown to 16 members.
What is Australian Business Asia?
A loose association, Australian Business Asia provides the umbrella for its constituent groups to come together on critical advocacy issues involving Australian business across the region. It also provides a platform for joint activities, reciprocal arrangements and for exchange of information and ideas between the member groups.
For more information on ABA, visit www.australianbusinessasia.org