Image from Bernama
KOTA TINGGI (Bernama): The 12th Working Group-Asean Economic Community (WG-AEC) Meeting concluded today after convening for two days at the Desaru Coast Conference Centre, near here.
Chaired by Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) senior director of Asean Economic Integration Division Sugumari S Shanmugam, participants of the meeting negotiated, presented views and positions, formulated and contributed to the development of the Asean Economic Community Strategic Plan 2026-2030.
The meeting was physically attended by 30 delegates from all Asean member states, Timor-Leste and Asean Secretariat as well as virtual participation among Asean member states and Timor-Leste as well as appointed consultants.
Following the conclusion of the WG-AEC meeting, the 47th High-Level Task Force on Asean Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) will convene for two days, beginning on Monday, before the Preparatory Senior Economic Officials' Meeting (Prep-SEOM) for the 31st AEM Retreat takes place on Feb 26 and 27.
Asean economic ministers are scheduled to gather for a retreat on Feb 28, to be chaired by the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, to discuss 18 priority economic deliverables (PEDs) aimed at driving regional economic integration, inclusivity, sustainability and digital trade.
The retreat is being held in conjunction with Malaysia’s chairmanship of Asean with the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability”, two values that are interdependent and mutually reinforcing values.
The elements of inclusivity and sustainability will be embedded across all the three pillars of Asean Community namely Asean Political-Security Community (APSC), Asean Economic Community (AEC) and Asean Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).
One of the priorities and deliverables of Malaysia as the chairman of Asean is to increase intra-Asean trade and investment as well as explore and expand Asean economic partnerships beyond the region. - Bernama
