FROM REGIONAL TRUST TO REAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES — BUILDING A NEW ASEAN-WIDE BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM

4th October 2026.The 4th VECONAC Business Forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia marked an important step forward in transforming an established regional network of trust into a working business ecosystem across ASEAN.

Held in conjunction with the 38th Executive Board Meeting and 25th General Assembly of the Veterans Confederation of ASEAN Countries (VECONAC), the Business Forum brought together representatives and business leaders from across the region with one increasingly clear objective:

Move beyond networking. Move beyond platforms. Start creating real business.

During the Forum, BG (Ret.) Winston Toh, President of the SAF Veterans’ League of Singapore, highlighted the cooperation with Communication 21 Media Group and the commitment by our Founder, Dr. (h.c.) Benny Yeo, to provide full marketing support to the developing VECONAC business ecosystem.

The discussions focused strongly on execution — getting businesses onto the regional network, identifying products and market requirements, strengthening national business focal points, developing bilateral and multilateral opportunities, and connecting companies with actual markets.

The emerging ecosystem brings together several complementary strengths.

VECONAC provides the trusted regional network and relationships.

The Brunei-led VECONAC Business Platform provides a shared space for business visibility and discovery.

Singapore’s BuyASEAN platform supports the structured negotiation and transaction process.

And Communication 21 Media Group brings marketing, trade and industry promotion, exhibitions, market development and international business connectivity into the ecosystem.

🚀 Powering Communication 21’s digital business-connectivity capabilities is Catalog Connect.

Catalog Connect takes the concept beyond a conventional business directory. Through structured company and product information, digital discovery and AI-enabled business matching, businesses can be connected according to what they offer, what they need and where real opportunities exist.

The objective is simple:

DISCOVER → CONNECT → MATCH → NEGOTIATE → DO BUSINESS

But digital connectivity alone is not enough.

Communication 21 will also help connect participating businesses with trade exhibitions, industry networks, buyers, suppliers and international market opportunities, creating an online-to-offline ecosystem where digital connections can develop into real-world business relationships.

The Forum also discussed the possibility of establishing joint veteran-enterprise zones within existing trade exhibitions, giving participating businesses another route to reach buyers and markets. Indonesia has undertaken to explore such an opportunity through its national business federation.

Another significant direction is China–ASEAN connectivity.

During the Forum, China-origin products through the China and Belt and Road-related business channel associated with Dr. Benny Yeo were proposed as an initial supply pilot, while Vietnam also agreed in principle to participate with products from its business network.

This opens the possibility of progressively connecting the VECONAC business ecosystem with Chinese enterprises, industries, buyers, suppliers and wider international markets.

Dr. Benny Yeo, who also serves as Executive Chairman (ASEAN) of the Global Confederation of Belt and Road Economic Cooperation, said:

“VECONAC brings the trusted regional network. The digital platforms create the infrastructure. Communication 21 brings marketing, industry connectivity and access to markets, powered by Catalog Connect. Together, we want to turn regional trust into real economic opportunities.”

The afternoon strategic working session further reinforced the direction towards implementation. Among the priorities discussed were active participation by all countries, bringing an initial group of companies and products onto the platform, strengthening the usability of the ecosystem, holding the Business Forum regularly, and exploring opportunities across B2B, B2G and eventually broader consumer markets.

Potential sectors discussed included agriculture, technology, consultancy and training, halal, healthcare, disaster-relief supplies, tourism, data and industrial cooperation.

With the Business Forum framework now encompassing all 11 ASEAN countries, including Timor-Leste, the potential is much bigger than another digital platform.

It is about building an ecosystem where trusted relationships meet technology, where technology meets markets, and where connections are ultimately converted into business opportunities.

Relationships create trust.
Trust creates cooperation.
And cooperation must ultimately create opportunities.

🌐 From regional trust to real business opportunities.
From ASEAN to China and beyond.

Communication 21 Media Group
Digital Business Connectivity Powered by Catalog Connect