Kuala Lumpur: Negotiations on the enhanced memorandum of agreement for the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), aimed at strengthening energy security, connectivity, and sustainability, are set to conclude with a signing at the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting in October 2025.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Investment Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz announced that the ASEAN Economic Ministers welcomed ongoing efforts towards the establishment of the APG Financing Facility Framework. This framework is expected to enhance cross-border flows of foreign direct investments (FDIs) and create new funding opportunities for regional energy-related projects.
“The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council also expressed full support for the convening of a joint meeting between ASEAN’s Energy, Finance, and Economic Ministers in August 2025,” Tengku Zafrul stated during a press conference following the 25th AEC Council (AECC) Meeting.
The 25th AECC Meeting, held in conjunction with the 46th ASEAN Summit, discussed 11 agenda items focused on strengthening regional cooperation. Chaired by Tengku Zafrul, the meeting saw attendance from several key ministers, including Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong; Brunei’s Minister of Finance and Economy II Datuk Awang Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah; Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul; and Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, among others.
The 46th ASEAN Summit, under Malaysia’s 2025 chairmanship themed ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, marks Malaysia’s fifth time chairing the regional bloc. It previously held the ASEAN chairmanship in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
The summit is expected to address a wide range of pressing regional and international issues, with the crisis in Myanmar remaining a key concern for ASEAN member states. Additionally, the summit will feature the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, highlighting growing engagement between Southeast Asia and strategic partners in the Gulf and China.