Kuala lumpur: Preparations for the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting and related meetings in the nation’s capital are progressing smoothly, with several final preparations being carried out to ensure the smooth conduct of these meetings. A total of 20 meetings and side programmes are expected to take place from Sept 22 to 26, with over 500 delegates from ASEAN countries and dialogue partners in attendance.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, a survey at the event venue, the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), found that staff members are working diligently to complete final preparations ahead of the start of the meetings. Deputy Secretary General (Trade) of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, expressed satisfaction with the preparations so far, stating that 80 percent is ready, with the hope that the meeting will commence smoothly.

Additionally, the Media Secretariat team is finalising the installation of electronic devices and intern
et services at the International Media Centre (IMC). Speaking to Bernama, the coordinator of the IMC, Zaria Mohd Nasri, revealed that around 300 media practitioners from local and international news agencies are expected to cover the event. The installation of internet and electronic equipment is nearly complete and expected to be fully finished by Sunday afternoon.

Preparations for the first meeting, the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM), are underway, with the media registration team also readying for the media pass collection session. Zaria noted that a media interview desk and a media help desk have been set up to facilitate media tasks. Bernama has been entrusted by MITI to manage media centre preparations.

Besides Malaysia, ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, with dialogue partners such as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.