Kuala lumpur: The findings and recommendations of the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force (AGTF) will be presented and deliberated collectively during a proposed joint session of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) prior to the 47th ASEAN Summit this October.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz announced that the AGTF was established to create an ad-hoc, dedicated ASEAN Track 1.5 platform under the ASEAN High-Level Technical Forum (HLTF). The primary goal is to develop strategic solutions in response to tariffs imposed by the United States earlier this year.
During a special AEM meeting on April 10, it was agreed that the AGTF’s focus should expand beyond ASEAN-US issues to address a broader range of geopolitical and geoeconomic priorities. This approach is intended to ensure balanced perspectives, foster mutual understanding, and guide policies that reinforce ASEAN’s economic resilience and political coherence, as highlighted by Tengku Zafrul during the opening of the 5th AGTF meeting.
The meeting was chaired by Tengku Zafrul on the sidelines of the 57th AEM Meeting, held from September 22 to 26, 2025, at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC). Notable attendees included Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Trade, Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, and Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Liew Chin Tong.
Tengku Zafrul emphasized that by integrating both economic and political considerations, ASEAN can formulate strategies that drive sustainable growth, strengthen resilience, and secure long-term prosperity for member states. He noted that policy decisions, governance frameworks, and regional cooperation collectively shape trade, investment, and the overall economic ecosystem, underscoring the importance of a coordinated, proactive, and forward-looking strategy across ASEAN.
After the meeting, Tengku Zafrul told Bernama that the AGTF report and findings will be presented at the AEM Meeting for review and information for ASEAN economic ministers tomorrow. This marks the first meeting chaired by Tengku Zafrul where ASEAN countries and experts discuss the interconnectedness of economic and security issues.
The ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force was established during the 31st ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Desaru, Johor, in February this year and held its inaugural meeting on May 16.