City of London Corporation · Network Charter 2026

ASEAN
IN THE
CITY

The Square Mile's South East Asian professional network  bridging the City of London Corporation's strategic ASEAN engagement with the lived experience of the UK's diaspora workforce.

In partnership with
City of London Corporation
SEACOM
£3.8T
ASEAN combined GDP 5th largest economy
£62.1B
UK–ASEAN bilateral trade, Q4 2025
+17.4%
Year-on-year trade growth post-CPTPP
US$3T
Assets under management already engaged via InvestConnect
Why Now

The Moment Is
Accelerating

ASEAN is one of the world's most dynamic economic regions. With the UK's accession to the CPTPP in December 2024, and a new ASEAN-UK Plan of Action (2027–2031) agreed in July 2026, the City of London's strategic engagement with South East Asia has entered a new phase.

The City of London Corporation through its Asia Programme and TheCityUK's ASEAN Market Advisory Group, chaired by HSBC has signalled its ambition to establish a dedicated City of London ASEAN Advisory Council. ASEAN in the City is designed to sit inside this architecture: bridging the civic and the commercial.

We connect the Square Mile's South East Asian diaspora workforce with the Corporation's strategic ASEAN engagement.

2026 Milestones
February
2026
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn meets the Lady Mayor of the City of London — strengthening collaboration on digitalisation, connectivity, inclusivity and sustainable finance.
July
2026
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband agrees the second ASEAN-UK Plan of Action (2027–2031) in Manila — deepening cooperation across regulatory reform, financial services and open trade.
14 September
2026
Viet Nam-UK Financial Services Summit in Ho Chi Minh City — 150+ senior delegates, Lady Mayor's official visit — advancing capital market development, talent pipelines and women's leadership.
15 September
2026
Lady Mayor's visit to Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore — positioning London as a long-term partner for capital mobilisation, sustainable infrastructure and transition finance.
16 September
2026
ASEAN in the City Network Charter signed by Tuan Nguyen, Managing Partner, SEA COM CIC — formalising SEA COM's role as a Steering Group member.
Our Purpose

A Channel Between
the Square Mile and
the Community

ASEAN in the City serves as a channel for bilateral communication and engagement between the Square Mile's South East Asian communities and the City of London Corporation delivering visibility, cultural pride, social cohesion, and trade and investment engagement across all eleven ASEAN-heritage communities.

Our Commitments
Represent the ASEAN community in the Square Mile through permanent annual events aligned with the City Belonging Project
Consult and advise the City of London on effective engagement with South East Asian communities
Promote civic engagement opportunities in the City for people of South East Asian heritage
Work collaboratively with the City of London to deliver events and activities across the year
Collaborate with existing networks and partners present in the City of London
Our Values
Respect
Respecting the views, rights and feelings of all members and allies of the community.
Inclusivity
Welcoming members and allies regardless of their backgrounds or identities.
Non-Partisan
The Network exists to serve the community and does not engage in political activity.
Pan-ASEAN Unity
Representing and celebrating all eleven South East Asian nations and their diaspora communities equally.
Signed Charter Member
Managing Partner/SEACOM 
Signed 16 September 2026
Financial Services, Investment & Trade

Six Areas of
Strategic Alignment

ASEAN in the City is uniquely positioned to bridge the City Corporation's commercial ASEAN engagement with the lived experience of the UK's South East Asian diaspora, across six priority areas from the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action (2027–2031).
📈
Trade & Investment
UK-ASEAN bilateral trade reached £62.1bn in Q4 2025, up 17.4% year-on-year. The Network serves as a convening point for ASEAN-heritage professionals in the Square Mile's financial and professional services firms, creating a direct bridge between institutional engagement and community voice.
🏦
Financial Services & Capital Markets
The ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme spans Regulatory Reform, Financial Services, and Open Trade. The Network champions financial literacy, professional networking and mentoring for South East Asian diaspora professionals, aligned with the City Corporation's financial centre development agenda.
🌿
Green & Sustainable Finance
The UK is committed to £11.6bn in international climate finance, including £3bn for nature. The Network raises awareness and connects diaspora professionals with the growing green finance ecosystem, including transition finance, sustainability disclosure and taxonomy interoperability between UK and ASEAN frameworks.
💻
Digital Economy & Fintech
The Lady Mayor's visit promotes InvestConnect, an AI-enabled platform connecting investors with UK infrastructure opportunities (US$3T AUM already engaged). The Network promotes digital skills, fintech career pathways and enterprise support for South East Asian-heritage entrepreneurs.
👩‍💼
Women's Economic Empowerment
The ASEAN-UK Plan of Action and the Vietnam-UK Financial Services Summit both prioritise women's leadership. The Network champions women of South East Asian heritage in the City, providing visible role models, networking platforms and mentoring aligned with institutional priorities.
🔒
Insurance & Risk Management
Lloyd's of London has expressed its commitment to ASEAN, supporting the Lady Mayor's visit. The Network connects South East Asian insurance and reinsurance professionals in the City with this institutional relationship, fostering knowledge exchange and career development.
Support from the City

What the City of London
Corporation Provides

The City of London Corporation is an active partner of ASEAN in the City not a passive funder. The Corporation's support is structural, connecting the Network directly into the Square Mile's institutional architecture through its Asia Programme and TheCityUK's ASEAN Market Advisory Group.

Strategic Context
The Corporation is pursuing a dedicated City of London ASEAN Advisory Council, following the model of its China and India advisory bodies. ASEAN in the City provides the community foundation for this institutional ambition.
Seven Commitments
▸
Convening a steering group and providing institutional backing
▸
Securing event spaces in the Square Mile
▸
Identifying sponsors and partners across the City
▸
Maintaining mailing lists and adhering to privacy regulations
▸
Promoting Network activities through City Corporation channels
▸
Building connections across organisations in the Square Mile
▸
Reporting progress and success to support the Network's accountability and growth
Network Structure

How the Network Is Organised

Membership
Steering Group
The Network is made up of 3–10 voluntary Steering Group members, appointed at the discretion of the City of London Corporation for an initial period of one year.
Eligibility: Steering Group members must be an employee at a City of London workplace at the time of appointment.
Governance
Sponsoring Alderman
The Steering Group is supported by an Alderman sponsor — a formal link to the City of London Corporation, providing direct institutional access and accountability.
A non-partisan organisation: the Network serves the community and does not engage in political activity of any kind.
Responsibilities
Steering Group Duties
Hold regular meetings to plan events and respond to consultations. Establish contacts at each City workplace. Organise regular public events within the City. Maintain goals, mission and operational self-reliance.
Note: Membership is voluntary and does not constitute an employment or contractual relationship with the City of London.
GIVE 10 MINUTES
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT
CITY OF LONDON
ASEAN IN THE CITY
GIVE 10 MINUTES
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT
CITY OF LONDON
ASEAN IN THE CITY
Guinness World Record Attempt · City of London

GIVE10'
RECORD

The Largest Gathering of ASEAN Heritage Professionals

Ten minutes of your time. One record-breaking moment for South East Asian communities in the Square Mile. Give10' is ASEAN in the City's flagship public event: a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest-ever gathering of South East Asian and ASEAN-heritage professionals in the City of London.

Held annually in the heart of the Square Mile, Give 10 transforms ten minutes of civic participation into a living statement: that South East Asian communities are visible, present, and counted in the UK's most powerful financial district.

How It Works
1
Register your attendance in advance — City workers, alumni, partners and allied organisations welcome.
2
Gather at the designated City of London venue — a single, timed, ten-minute assembly coordinated with GWR adjudicators.
3
Be counted — the official adjudicator certifies the record, placing South East Asian communities permanently in the Guinness World Records.
4
Celebrate — networking reception, cultural showcases, and a formal recognition moment with City of London Corporation.
Register for Give 10 →
Sponsor the Record
10
minutes
Guinness World Record:
Largest ASEAN Professional Gathering
A single ten-minute assembly in the City of London — officially adjudicated, certified, and entered into the Guinness World Records as a permanent testament to South East Asian visibility in the Square Mile.
10'
Your commitment
1
World record
10
Nations represented
Who Can Participate
→ City of London employees of South East Asian heritage
→ Alumni and professionals visiting the Square Mile
→ Allied organisations and community supporters
→ Corporate partners and City of London Corporation staff
In Partnership With
City of London Corporation
ASEAN Programme & City Belonging Project

Join ASEAN
in the City

If you work in the Square Mile and are of South East Asian heritage — or an ally of the community ASEAN in the City is your professional home in the City of London. Join the Steering Group, attend our events, or partner with the Network to advance the ASEAN-UK relationship.

Apply for the Steering Group →
Attend an Event
Contact
hello@seacomcic.org
Charter
Network Charter v2.1, signed 16 September 2026
Partner
City of London Corporation — Asia Programme