Join us for UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week 2024 

About UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week 

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is delighted to announce the launch of UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week 2024. This week will bring together regulators, policy makers, government officials, academics, investors and companies to celebrate, showcase and discuss the UK-Southeast Asia technology partnership. 

Running from Monday 4 March to Friday 8 March 2024, DBT will be taking a delegation of cutting-edge UK technology companies to Thailand and Vietnam for a series of commercially focused engagements with influential business and government representatives from across the region.

In addition, interested companies will also have the option of extending their stay in Southeast Asia by joining DBT's Digital Economy Mission to Singapore from Monday 11 to Wednesday 13 March. 

Programme Offer 

UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week will help you make the most of the commercial opportunities Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing markets offer to UK tech companies. The week’s activities will support you in developing new business partnerships, connecting you to the Southeast Asia ecosystem, and identifying potential new clients and investors. 

Proposed activities include: 

• Curated one-to-one business matching sessions with potential business partners and customers 

• Reverse pitching sessions with regional conglomerates 

• On-site visits to relevant local organisations and companies  

• High-profile networking events with key business leaders and influential government officials  

• Workshops and roundtables bringing together business, government stakeholders and academia to promote the strengths of the UK’s tech sector 

The first half of the week’s programme will take place in Thailand (Bangkok) and the second half will take place in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City). 

Focus Sectors 

For this trade mission, DBT is recruiting around 15 best-in-class UK companies offering enterprise tech or sustainability solutions based on AI, big data, cyber, telecoms, semiconductors or similar critical technologies.  

Why Southeast Asia? 

The UK and Southeast Asia are home to two of the world’s most dynamic and innovative digital ecosystems. With Southeast Asia’s markets rapidly growing and maturing, now is the perfect time for UK companies to break into the region. 

• Favourable macroeconomic outlook: ASEAN’s economic growth is projected to be 4.7% this year and 4.8% next year – virtually on par with China (4.9%). 

• Strong digital economy: ASEAN's digital economy is projected to triple by the end of the decade, growing from approximately US$300 billion to almost US$1 trillion by 2030.   

• Dynamic investment environment: Between 2015 and 2020, VC investment in the region rose by a factor of 2.6 – outperforming both China and India.  

• Thriving tech ecosystems: The region is now home to more than 40 unicorns (start-ups valued at more than US$1 billion).