Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 6 March 2026, delivered the keynote speech at the Symposium on Economic Resilience Strategy for Japan and ASEAN in Tokyo, Japan. In his remarks, SG Dr. Kao emphasised the importance of industrial cooperation, supply chain resilience, and sustainable growth in shaping the foundation of regional economic resi...
As ASEAN is positioning to be the heart of digital economy, fostering trust is key in reaping the benefits of growing digitalisation and further empowering the vulnerable segments of the population.In the bustling streets of Jakarta, 50-year-old Siti (name changed) sits behind her food stall, where the aroma and sizzle of fried rice and grilled satay...
For companies operating across borders in ASEAN, tariff is no longer their main concern, thanks to the successful elimination of 99% of tariff rates under the ASEAN Trade In good Agreement (ATIGA). Today, the real challenges to ASEAN businesses lie in heightened uncertainties arising from supply chain disruptions, regulatory complexity, and the ...
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 13 February 2026, met with H.E. Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany, on the sidelines of his participation in the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany. They exchanged views on strengthening ASEAN-Germany economic cooper...
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 13 February 2026, attended the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2026 Roundtable on “Power Couples: Trade and Green Energy Cooperation Between Europe and the Global South.” During the session, Dr. Kao outlined ASEAN’s regional energy transition priorities and the ASEAN Power Grid initiative, among others....
JAKARTA, 12 FEBRUARY 2026 – The First Meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) of the European Union (EU)-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package-Investment Facility (SCOPE-IF) project took place today at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.The Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Sustainable Infrastructure (ACSI), Joseph J Capuno, Undersecreta...
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community, H.E. Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, today received a courtesy call by the Head of Southeast Asia and ASEAN Division at EEAS, Ms. Leila Fernández-Stembridge at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on ways to further strengthen the ASEAN...
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 10 February 2026, met with Naz Shah MP, the UK’s Trade Envoy to ASEAN, in London. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ASEAN-UK economic cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as regulatory excellence, supply chain resilience, digital transformation, financial services, and green transi...
The SIXTH ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (hereinafter referred to as “ADGMIN”) was convened from 15 to 16 January 2026:REAFFIRMING the aims and purposes of ASEAN as enshrined in the Bangkok Declaration of 8th August 1967 and the ASEAN Charter, particularly to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region thr...
H.E. Phạm Minh Chính, Prime Minister of Viet Nam,H.E. Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam,Excellencies, ADGMIN Ministers,Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,1. I am pleased to join you at the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting Opening Ceremony. I would like to acknowledge the Vietnamese Governm...
