Semarang, The Indonesia Post – The Indonesian Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan said the ASEAN Economic Ministers held a meeting with the ASEAN Business Council (A-BAC) to agree on a number of strategic efforts, including growing the electric vehicle ecosystem and payment of quick response codes (QR).
“The target is for ASEAN and ASEAN-BAC Ministers to agree to increase intra-ASEAN trade and investment, electric vehicle ecosystems, carbon market mobilization, and regional payment systems through quick response (QR) codes,” said Zulhas, the Indonesian Minister of Trade’s nickname. Consultation Meeting of ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) in Semarang, Central Java, Saturday.
In addition to enhancing the four strategic economic steps, said Zulhas, ASEAN and ASEAN-BAC Ministers have also discussed five ASEAN-BAC priority issues namely digital transformation, sustainable development, food security, health security, and trade and investment facilitation.
Zulhas who is the Chair of the 2023 ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM), said AEM also stressed the importance of collaboration with business actors, and the provision of ASEAN-BAC internal consultations in each ASEAN country.
According to Zulhas, increasing ASEAN cooperation with the business or private sector is an important factor in strengthening ASEAN.
“Of course the strengthening of ASEAN can be achieved because of the involvement and cooperation with the private sector which is the main actor of trade in ASEAN,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chair of ASEAN-BAC Arsjad Rasjid said that in general the ASEAN Economic Ministers accepted the ASEAN-BAC recommendations brought to the meeting.
“The ASEAN Economic Ministers accepted the existence of a joint committee between the government and the business sector. This is where the public-private partnership occurs, because it is very important. These days, things don’t work out on their own. We can call this ASEAN Incorporated (ASEAN Inc.),” said Arsjad.
Semarang is hosting the series of the 55th AEM Meeting and Other Related Meetings on August 17-22 2023. Starting with a two-day preparatory meeting of senior economic officials on Thursday and Friday, August 17-18 2023, the series will continue with a series of Economic Minister Level Meetings ASEAN for four days from Saturday to Tuesday, 19-22 August 2023. (mhn/bbs)
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