ASEAN economic ministers’ meeting optimistic about regional growth
The ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Special Meeting 2022 showed optimism that the region will return to pre-pandemic levels, with GDP growth expected to reach 4.9 percent in 2022 and 5.2 percent in 2023.
ASEAN economic ministers’ meeting optimistic about regional growth (Photo: //asean.org/)
Jakarta (VNA) – The ASEANEconomic Ministers’ (AEM) Special Meeting 2022 showed optimism that the regionwill return to pre-pandemic levels, with GDP growth expected to reach 4.9percent in 2022 and 5.2 percent in 2023.
Themed “Addressing challenges together”, the event was held onMay 18 in Bali, Indonesia, under the chair of Cambodia.
According to a joint statement approved at the event, the meeting had afruitful discussion and exchange of views on ASEAN’s collective effort and strategyto address regional and global issues, mitigate their potentially adverseimpact on ASEAN’s economy, and push forward ASEAN centrality in strengtheningeconomic integration in the region.
The meeting noted that the fast-changing global economic landscape is bringing both new opportunities and challenges to the region.
Digital technology and sustainable development are emerging as new drivingforces for the future growth of ASEAN, the statement said.
Meanwhile, current geopolitical tensions, disruptions on global economic andtrade activities, and climate change highlight the imperative for the regionto strengthen community-building efforts, it added.
The statement underlined theimportance for ASEAN to reaffirmits commitment and determination to work together to ensure that the ASEANEconomic Community remains relevant, competitive, inclusive, sustainable,cohesive, and resilient in the post-pandemic world.
Themeeting also stressed that ASEAN needs to remain vigilant and accelerate th✃eimplementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) to navigateglobal challenges and to ensure that the ASEAN economy is able to bounce backbetter and stronger./.
ASEAN member countries and Canada have agreed to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) during the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) – Canada Consultation which was held virtually on November 17.
The seventh ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Dialogue took place online on February 17 to discuss the findings and recommendations in the ASEAN Business Sentiment Study 2020/2021, which gauged ongoing sentiment of the ASEAN indigenous enterprises towards the implementation of the AEC Blueprint 2025.
The ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) group is keen to upgrade existing free trade agreements (FTAs) and accelerate the enforcement of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade pact among all members, aiming to revive the regional economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Republic of Korea (RoK) has launched an ASEAN - RoK financial cooperation centre in Jakarta, which serves as a gateway for Korean financial firms to enter regional markets and vice-versa.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
ASEAN economic ministers’ meeting optimistic about regional growth (Photo: //asean.org/) 
