Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – Chair of the ASEAN-Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Arsjad Rasjid stressed the need for mutual cooperation and collaboration between ASEAN countries to be able to maximize investment potential in the region which is estimated to reach up to US$20 trillion by 2045.
“With the epicenter of growth in ASEAN, we see a potential of up to US$20 trillion that we can achieve by 2045. The potential is enormous,” he said at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) in Jakarta, Sunday.
ASEAN BAC, in line with the theme carried by “ASEAN Centrality Through Innovation and Inclusivity”, encourages the formation of a solid business ecosystem in the ASEAN region, so that all member countries can develop together.
According to Arsjad, in the past many people felt pessimistic about ASEAN’s move as a regional organization. However, in the midst of various disastrous geopolitical and geoeconomic crises and challenges, ASEAN has survived and even is taking the opportunity to become the world’s growth center.
He also emphasized that the centrality of ASEAN is not just looking at a strategic geographical position but how to reconstruct a mindset so that we can grow together.
Arsjad also talked about his journey around ASEAN to find answers on how businesses in the ASEAN region can grow.
“From these interactions, we collect all aspirations on how ASEAN should move forward. Everything is translated into policy recommendations,” he said.
The policy recommendations were submitted to President Joko Widodo as Chair of ASEAN 2023 on September 1 at the Presidential Palace.
“President Joko Widodo supports our vision to push for the realization of a united ASEAN when the public and private sectors work closely together to develop our region,” he said.
There are five principles namely peace, prosperity, people, planet earth and important partnerships that are echoed to support ASEAN’s inclusive development.
“Together, we will navigate challenges and seize opportunities and create a legacy that will shape the ASEAN economic landscape for generations to come,” he said. (mhn/bbs)
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