Kuala lumpur: The 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) and Related Meetings began this morning to deliberate on advancing regional economic integration and addressing key trade and investment issues. The series of meetings will start with the Fifth Meeting of the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force (5th AGTF) at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here. To be chaired by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, the 5th AGTF will likely discuss strategies to address the escalating challenges of the global geoeconomic landscape.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Indonesia Deputy Minister of Trade, Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, and Mari Elka Pangestu, who is Indonesia’s Presidential Special Envoy for International Trade and Multilateral Cooperation, are also expected to attend. Tan Sri Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, the former executive director of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat and former Secretary General of MITI, is also expected to share her insights during the meeting.
During the last AGTF meeting in Bogor, Indonesia, in August, member states exchanged perspectives on many issues, including unilateral tariff measures, and examined both the challenges and potential opportunities arising from these policies. Their discussion emphasised the importance of coordinated regional responses, enhanced policy agility, and stronger public-private collaboration to mitigate risks to ASEAN’s supply chains, trade flows, and long-term competitiveness.
After the AGTF meeting, senior officials will meet for the preparatory Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM), to further discuss issues regarding the implementation of the 18 Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs). Among the 18 PEDs, one has been fully completed as the joint declaration on ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) Economic Cooperation was adopted on May 27, 2025, while the remaining PEDs are in progress.
Throughout the week, a series of AEM joint meetings will be taking place, including the 39th ASEAN Free Trade Area Council and the 28th ASEAN Investment Area Council, as well as the AEM Consultations with Dialogue Partners, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, other business councils, and with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). These meetings provide opportunities for ministers to discuss global and regional economic issues, take stock of regional economic achievements, and explore ways to expand economic cooperation.
ASEAN is a regional organisation comprising 10 Southeast Asian countries, namely, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.