7 July 1982]
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE
[Continued
Trade Fairs, Missions and Seminars
17. In response to demands from industry, in 1980 and 1981 taken together, BOTB organisational and financial support was provided to 571 firms exhibiting at 23 fairs; to 5 Inward Missions which visited the UK comprising 26 overseas buyers; and to 375 UK businessmen taking part in 32 Outward Missions. These Outward Missions, some of which covered more than one country, visited 52 markets in all. One special presentation was mounted in collaboration with British industry under the BOTB's Seminars and Symposia Scheme. The corresponding figures to date for 1982 are 15 fairs, 2 Inward Missions comprising 8 people, and 296 people in 20 Outward Missions covering 28 markets. These figures for 1982 sugest that the level of interest shown in the area in 1980 and 1981 is being maintained. The Department will continue to use the support available under these schemes to help UK industry to penetrate markets in this area.
(E) SOUTH EAST ASIA TRADE ADVISORY GROUP (SEATAG)
18. The South East Asia Trade Advisory Group is one of the Area Advisory Groups of the British Overseas Trade Board. It provides a link between industry and government and gives advice to Government on promoting UK export to South East Asia. The Group is composed mainly of businessmen, all of whom have experience and knowledge of the area in a wide range of commercial and industrial interests; it meets about six times a year. As one of its promotional activities it holds two seminars each year in different commercial or industrial centres of the UK to promote exports to South East Asia and investment in the area (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Burma, Brunei, Thailand and Indo China). The most recent seminar took place in Aberdeen in June. SEATAG also publishes and distributes a quarterly magazine to some 6,000 companies interested in the latest trade news from South East Asia. Members of SEATAG also give trade promotion talks to groups concerned with exports, such as Technex. The Group is supported by a Department of Trade Secretariat. The present Chairman of SEATAG is a member of the central BOTB.
(F) CONCLUSIONS.
19.
Each country is, of course, individual: they have different cultures, geography, populations, languages, resources and systems of Government. What they have in common is a great potential for economic growth based, for the most part, on exploitation of immense natural sources, especially in the energy and related fields. Development of these resources should provide continuing opportunities for many years to come for UK industry to win substantial export business.
20. The Department fully recognises that companies themselves are best able to set their own priorities. We believe however that there is a continuing need to bring the opportunities of these markets to their attention. The Department would like to see greater use made of the assistance it can provide in helping companies break into these markets and to consolidate their positions once established. We should welcome further ideas and suggestions as to how this might be achieved.
ANNEX A
THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN)
The Association of South East Asian Nations came into being with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration, known as the Bangkok Declaration, on 8 August 1967, by its five member countries namely: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Its aims, as stated in the Declaration, are to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development of the region and to bring about regional peace and stability, to promote collaboration and mutual assistance in matters of common interest, and maintain close and beneficial co-operation with existing international and regional organisations with similar aims.
2. It was the First ASEAN Summit held in Bali in February 1976, that proclaimed at the highest political level, the strong determination of ASEAN people to work together