Representatives of the UK and Southeast Asian standards bodies met on 21 June to renew their commitment to using international standards to boost trade opportunities between the UK and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
A week prior to the meeting, the United Kingdom and the ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) held the 2nd Annual Dialogue Meeting on Standards and Conformance, marking another significant milestone in a growing partnership, the UK government said in a statement.
British Standards Institution (BSI) has been actively engaged in supporting ASEAN member states in their pursuit of harmonised standards, enhancing trade facilitation, and promoting consumer safety across the region. Through the sharing of best practice, technical expertise, and capacity-building initiatives, BSI continues to play an important role in advancing international standards adoption within the Southeast Asian bloc.
“This is an exciting time for the ASEAN-UK relationship, as we work in partnership to deliver our agreed objectives, including to open markets and facilitate the smooth flow of goods and services,” said Sarah Tiffin, UK Ambassador to ASEAN.
Scott Steedman, BSI Director-General, Standards, commented, “We have been working closely with ASEAN member states to help them gain a deeper understanding of how standards can play a vital role in boosting trade opportunities and promoting consumer safety.”
ASEAN-UK trade is currently worth around £45.3 billion, an increase of 23.5 percent since September 2022, the UK government says.
ASEAN and the UK have agreed to work together to open markets and facilitate the smooth flow of goods and services to ensure trade continues to increase.