KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Geoeconomics Task Force (AGTF) will present its findings and recommendations to a proposed joint session of the Asean Foreign Ministers and Asean Economic Ministers (AEM).
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who disclosed this, said the joint session will deliberate on the findings of the task force before the 47th Asean Summit here next month.
“This approach ensures a balanced perspective, fosters mutual understanding and guides policies that reinforces Asean’s economic resilience and political coherence,” he said in opening the 5th meeting of the AGTF here yesterday.
Tengku Zafrul said the AGTF was first mooted during the 31st AEM Retreat last February to develop strategic solutions in response to various unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States.
He said the AEM, however, decided on April 10 that the AGTF should also transcend Asean-US issues by broadening its focus to address a wider array of geopolitical and geoeconomics priorities.
“This is because the AEM recognises that the nexus between economic growth and progress is deeply intertwined with the political landscape.
“Policy decisions, governance frameworks and regional cooperation collectively shape trade, investment and the overall economic ecosystem for coordinated, proactive and forward-looking strategies across Asean.”
Tengku Zafrul also said the AGTF team worked diligently over the past five months to consolidate its findings and develop actionable recommendations.
“The stakes and expectations are high and I sincerely hope these recommendations address both political and economic security, laying the groundwork for inclusive, forward-looking strategies,” he added.
The Asean economic ministers will gather here for the 57th AEM meeting this week. Among others, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) ministers’ meeting and the Asean-EU Business Summit is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
A series of consultations will also take place from today to Friday with the United States, South Korea, Canada, India and Russia.
