Driving commercial and political engagement between Asia, the Middle East and Europe
Driving commercial and political engagement between Asia, the Middle East and Europe
Driving commercial and political engagement between Asia, the Middle East and Europe
Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, the former Permanent Secretary at the Brunei Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry, has begun his five-year term as Secretary-General of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Lim is a leading diplomat who served as Brunei’s Chief Negotiator during Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade talks. Described by the Jakarta Post as ‘a seasoned diplomat’, he has been working in foreign-focused government departments since 1989.
Lim commenced his term on 1 January, which coincided with Singapore’s assumption of the ASEAN Chairmanship.
His diplomatic experience will ‘help push forward negotiations on the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP),’ according to the business news site Investvine.
If approved, the RCEP would create one of the world’s largest free trade zones, and constitute an important step towards the vision of the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP).
Lim was educated at City of London Polytechnic, graduating in 1976 with a BSc (Hons) in Economics, followed by a Postgraduate Teacher Certificate in 1977, the year in which he joined the Brunei government.
ASEAN welcomed Lim in an announcement on the Association’s website.
