EKONID
ANNUAL REPORT
2012
28
HIGHLIGHTS
GACN
Launching of the
German-ASEAN Chamber Network
On the wake of the 13
th
Asia-Pacific Conference (APK)
in India in November 2012, the five German Chambers
within theASEANregion (Indonesia,Malaysia, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam) officiates the German-ASEAN
Chamber Network (GACN) in the presence of the Federal
Minister of Economy and Technology, Dr. Philipp Roesler.
German companies active in the ASEAN region are
increasingly developing regional strategies. It is expected
that the GACN will create an open platform for German
enterprises and their partners and interlocutors from
business, politics and administration. The platform is not
bound by national frameworks and will facilitate a broad
dialogue as well as regional initiatives. For companies
with a regional orientation the GACN opens channels
for exchange on various levels amongst all relevant
stakeholders in ASEAN.
The network is designed to:
• identify future-oriented business opportunities
and to contribute to a continuous improvement
of the economic exchange between Europe and
ASEAN with a specific focus on small and medium
sized enterprises
• assist SMEs in adjusting and aligning their
strategies and activities with a view of the
determining political and economic factors in the
ASEAN region
• facilitate the exchange of information between
companies, the German Chambers (AHKs) and
other business associations in ASEAN and Europe
• formulate joint positions on trade and investment
issues towards achieving the ASEAN economic
union (“Declaration on the ASEAN Economic
Community Blueprint”)
• propose solutions for the improvement of the
trade and investment climate; develop focal areas
for the dialogue on strategic issues of the ASEAN
integration and for the identification of relevant
future topics.
A recent survey among the member companies of the
German Chambers (AHKs) in the ASEAN countries
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam
indicates that an engagement in the region is of growing
importanceforthebusinesssuccessofmanyenterprises.
A large share of companies acknowledged positive
developments in terms of economic performance,
capital investments and demand situation. The majority
of the firms is satisfied with their sales and production
figures and estimates a further increase in the coming
year. Indicators such as “staff count” and “investment”
are on the rise.
In 2013 the German-Indonesian Chamber of Industry
and Commerce (EKONID) with its Managing Director
Mr. Jan Roennfeld holds the chair of the GACN. For more
information please visit the webpage:
