The 2025 Annual Business Dialogue took place on 26 September 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the sidelines of the 57th Meeting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM). The one-day event was organised by the World Economic Forum in close collaboration with Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). 

The event brought together over 150 key stakeholders, including leaders from business, civil society, academia, as well as ASEAN Economic Ministers, Dialogue Partners, and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) Negotiation Committee.  

Throughout the sessions, participants discussed pressing issues such as digital transformation, regional integration, MSME empowerment, and strategies for building an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. The remarks and panel discussions offered valuable insights into the region’s current challenges and opportunities, underscoring the need for strengthened collaboration among all stakeholders. 

The event also featured the presentation of findings from the Annual Business Survey, based on interviews with more than 1,500 businesses across the region, including SMEs and startups.