The Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn, met with South Australia’s Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon. Joe Szakacs MP, on the margins of the Australia‑ASEAN Business Forum 2025 in Adelaide.

The encounter marked an important step in forging closer economic collaboration between ASEAN member states and the Australian state of South Australia.

During the meeting, both officials reaffirmed a shared vision to strengthen trade and investment flows and explore new partnerships under the frameworks of the ASEAN‑Australia‑New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

They discussed leveraging South Australia’s industry strengths in renewable energy, digital innovation and agribusiness to tap ASEAN’s fast-growing regional markets, which collectively represent more than six hundred million consumers.

Dr Kao emphasised Australia’s role as a “comprehensive strategic partner” of ASEAN and noted that South Australia’s leadership in innovation and export readiness provides an ideal bridge to Southeast Asia’s rising economies.

Minister Szakacs underscored that South Australia has prioritised the region in its trade-and-investment strategy, saying the forum’s return to Adelaide after more than a decade underscores the state’s ambition to become a hub for international collaboration.

Both parties agreed to establish a steering-mechanism to monitor cooperation opportunities in advanced manufacturing, value-added food production and sustainable infrastructure, and to facilitate business-matchmaking and regulatory dialogues.

Private-sector roundtables will follow the forum to build on the momentum generated in Adelaide.

The meeting concludes with a commitment by South Australia and ASEAN to deliver concrete partnership outcomes that enhance regional connectivity, strengthen supply chains and promote inclusive growth in the Indo-Pacific region.