Strengthening ASEAN–German Investment Ties: Highlights from the ASEAN Investment Forum in Dortmund

The ASEAN Investment Forum 2025 in Dortmund, Germany, brought together nearly 100 business leaders, policymakers, and investors from Germany and Southeast Asia. The forum provided a platform to explore new investment opportunities, strengthen business relations, and advance sustainable industrial collaboration between the two regions.

Aligned with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, the event was co-organised by MIDA Frankfurt, together with investment promotion agencies from Indonesia (IIPC), Singapore (EDB), and Thailand (BOI). Hosted at WILO, a globally recognised leader in pump systems and building technology, the forum highlighted ASEAN’s growing importance as a strategic partner for Europe’s industrial ecosystem.

Discussions throughout the forum showcased ASEAN’s significance across sectors such as machinery and equipment, chemicals, electrical & electronics, and green energy, reflecting the region’s capacity to support supply chain diversification and sustainable growth.

Mr. Georg Weber, Executive Board Member and CTO of WILO, shared the company’s global sustainability initiatives in water management and food security, noting Southeast Asia as a critical growth region where WILO operates in all four ASEAN co-organiser countries. North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) State Secretary Mr. Paul Höller emphasised ASEAN’s resilience and innovation, and its strategic position within the Indo-Pacific, positioning the region as a natural partner for Germany’s outward-looking industrial agenda.

A key highlight of the forum was the pitching session, where the four ASEAN investment promotion agencies presented their respective value propositions to German business leaders. Representing Malaysia, Mr. Asrulnizam Addrus, Director of MIDA Frankfurt, outlined Malaysia’s investment ecosystem, highlighting government support mechanisms for foreign investors and sharing examples of successful German investment projects across multiple industries. The presentation illustrated how Malaysia continues to position itself as a competitive, reliable, and business-friendly destination within ASEAN.

Beyond the forum itself, MIDA Frankfurt assumes an active facilitation role in supporting German and European companies seeking to better understand Malaysia’s investment landscape. Through continuous engagement, sector-specific briefings, and tailored investor support, the office serves as a bridge between initial investor interest and informed, long-term investment decisions in Malaysia.

Collectively, the pitching session reinforced ASEAN’s collective strength as a unified market with differentiated advantages—well-positioned to support Germany’s and Europe’s sustainability-driven growth ambitions.

The programme then moved into a panel discussion featuring four company representatives, each invited by the respective ASEAN co-organisers, to share first-hand perspectives on investing in the region. The session offered practical insights into market entry considerations, operational realities, and long-term growth experiences across ASEAN markets.

Representing Malaysia, Mr. Roland Mauss, Chief Financial Officer of Oryx Stainless AG—a global leader in circular economy solutions for stainless steel—shared his company’s investment journey and operational experience in the region. His perspective reinforced ASEAN’s role as a viable and strategic base for sustainable, high-value industrial activities.

The event concluded with a networking lunch, providing participants with an informal setting to deepen engagements, exchange views, and explore potential collaborations beyond the formal agenda.

Collectively, the pitching session reinforced ASEAN’s collective strength as a unified market with differentiated advantages-well-positioned to support Germany’s and Europe’s sustainability-driven growth ambitions.

The programme then moved into a panel discussion featuring four company
representatives, each invited by the respective ASEAN co-organisers, to share first-hand perspectives on investing in the region. The session offered practical insights into market entry considerations, operational realities, and long-term growth experiences across ASEAN markets.
Representing Malaysia, Mr. Roland Mauss, Chief

As Malaysia’s investment promotion presence in Germany, MIDA Frankfurt continues to support and facilitate German, Belgian, Dutch, Luxembourg, Austrian, Hungarian, and Czech Republic-based companies exploring investment opportunities in Malaysia. Through platforms such as the ASEAN Investment Forum and ongoing investor engagement, the office guides businesses in understanding Malaysia’s investment landscape, identifying sectoral opportunities, and navigating national policy frameworks—helping to turn interest into long-term partnerships.

Companies interested in learning more about investing in Malaysia may connect with MIDA Frankfurt via [email protected]