ASEM Summit 2006

Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF)

Representatives of the business world will convene for a meeting of the Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF) that will be organised in Helsinki on 10 and 11 September parallel to the ASEM6 Summit. The Forum, which is currently organised every two years in connection with the ASEM Summit, brings together business leaders to discuss ways to promote trade and investments. The Forum participants also submit recommendations to the governments of the Asian and European countries on how to develop economic cooperation.

The AEBF meeting aims at enhancing dialogue between business leaders and economic experts on both continents and at tightening relations between the ASEM countries' governments and business life. The first Asia-Europe Business Forum was held in Paris, France, in October 1996 and latest in Hanoi, Vietnam, in October 2004.

Some 300 to 400 high-level business leaders from 38 Asian and European countries are expected to attend the 10th AEBF in Helsinki. The meeting will be organised by the Confederation of Finnish Industries, (Elinkeinoelämän keskusliitto, EK).