Business leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will convene at a summit in Vietnam, attended primarily by young entrepreneurs.

Business leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will convene at a summit in Vietnam, attended primarily by young entrepreneurs.

The Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI) Summit, a significant event aimed at fostering connections and collaboration among entrepreneurs from New Zealand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is taking place in Vietnam from July 23 to 27, 2025.

Hosted by the Asia New Zealand Foundation, Te Whītau Tūhono, and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the summit brings together YBLI programme alumni and entrepreneurs from various industries, including agribusiness, technology, tourism, fashion, health, food and beverage.

Suzannah Jessep, Chief Executive of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, emphasised the summit's purpose, stating that it aims to build lasting connections among entrepreneurs from New Zealand and ASEAN. Nick Siu, Foundation Director of Business and Entrepreneurship, added that the summit offers a chance for emerging leaders to learn from each other, collaborate, and develop new ideas.

One of the participants, Kaye-Maree Dunn, Managing Director of Making Everything Achievable and Āhau NZ Limited, has grown her consulting firm since attending the last YBLI event and is now expanding into Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Bicky Nguyen, co-founder of Việt Nam-based company Cricket One, sees the summit as a chance to connect with fellow changemakers.

Nick Carey, Managing Director at Green Meadows Beef in New Zealand, expressed his anticipation for the upcoming event, stating that YBLI previously helped his business secure its first export customer in Singapore. The summit marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and both ASEAN and Vietnam.

New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, Caroline Beresford, stated that New Zealand is proud to be a close friend and partner of ASEAN for more than 50 years. The event is happening in Đà Nẵng and Huế.

While the specific schedule, detailed agenda, or list of participating industries for the YBLI Summit 2025 has not been published, related youth and business leadership events are scheduled in ASEAN nations in 2025. It is advised to monitor official ASEAN event websites or contact ASEAN-related youth and business organisations closer to the event date for precise details.

In the meantime, the anticipation builds as young leaders from both regions prepare to gather in Vietnam, marking another significant step in strengthening ties between New Zealand and ASEAN.

1. At the Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI) Summit, taking place in Vietnam from July 23 to 27, 2025, entrepreneurs from various industries, such as technology, fashion, health, and agribusiness, will collaborate and share ideas.
2. The theme of the YBLI Summit 2025, hosted by the Asia New Zealand Foundation, Te Whītau Tūhono, and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is to build lasting connections among entrepreneurs from New Zealand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
3. Emerging leaders, like Kaye-Maree Dunn, Managing Director of Making Everything Achievable and Āhau NZ Limited, and Bicky Nguyen, co-founder of Việt Nam-based company Cricket One, will attend the summit to learn, collaborate, and develop new ventures in finance, entrepreneurship, and technology.
4. The YBLI Summit 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and both ASEAN and Vietnam, emphasizing the depth of the partnership between these nations in areas like trade, diplomacy, and business.
5. Nick Carey, Managing Director at Green Meadows Beef in New Zealand, expects the upcoming YBLI Summit to provide opportunities for new partnerships that will help his business expand into the Asia-Pacific region, leveraging advancements in AI, technology, and finance.
6. young leaders from both New Zealand and ASEAN will gather in Vietnam for the YBLI Summit 2025, aiming to strengthen connections between the two regions in the pursuit of economic growth, labor cooperation, and sustainable development.

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