ASEAN Economic Ministers Meet To Review Priority Economic Deliverables, Boost Regional Integration

By Nurunnasihah Ahmad Rashid

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) – The 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) meeting is set to review the Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) and deliberate on advancing regional integration as the region continues to navigate an uncertain global economy.

The high-level meeting will be chaired by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and will be attended by ASEAN economic ministers, along with ASEAN secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn.

The meeting is expected to focus on advancing ASEAN’s regional integration efforts, particularly through a review of the PEDs, an assessment of progress under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025, and preparatory work for the AEC Strategic Plan 2026–2030.

Among the 18 PEDs, one has been fully completed, namely the joint declaration on ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) Economic Cooperation which was adopted on May 27, 2025 when the leaders met to foster greater economic cooperation.

This morning, the ministers will gather for the 39th ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council and the 28th ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council meetings to discuss global and regional economic issues, take stock of the regional economic achievements and explore ways to expand economic cooperation that would contribute to ASEAN’s regional economic integration journey.

At noon, attention will shift to the signing ceremony of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition (AFAC), followed by the 23rd ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Consultation, which will bring together ministers and business leaders.

ASEAN is a regional organisation comprising 10 Southeast Asian countries, namely, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Held under Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, the 57th AEM and Related Meetings will see a gathering of over 500 delegates from ASEAN member countries.

With the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, the AEM will see a total of 20 meetings and side programmes being held from Sept 22-26, including engagements with ASEAN Dialogue Partners and Sectoral Dialogue Partners.

This is the fifth time that Malaysia has assumed the ASEAN chairmanship since becoming a member of the regional bloc, having previously held the role in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.

— BERNAMA

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