By Karina Imran
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) — The Preparatory Senior Economic Officials’ meeting (Prep-SEOM) has concluded, setting the agenda to deliberate on strengthening regional economic resilience and adopting forward-looking strategies by the bloc’s 10-member countries’ ministers.
Chaired by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry’s (MITI) Deputy Secretary-General (Trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, senior officials also discussed the 18 priority economic deliverables (PEDs).
She expressed confidence that Malaysia would be able to implement 15 of the 18 PEDs, which are expected to be achieved by October at the 47th ASEAN Summit.
“Prep-SEOM also focuses on 10 key agendas, including PEDs implementation status, which has been Malaysia’s commitment throughout this year,” she said on the sidelines of the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) meeting and related meetings here today.
The meeting also reviewed ASEAN’s Economic Pillar for 2025 and finalised agenda items for the AEM meetings.
Meanwhile, the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force (AGTF), which was held earlier today, highlighted member countries’ efforts to strengthen resilience and address broader regional challenges beyond trade tensions.
“The AEM agreed that the AGTF’s role should transcend ASEAN-US issues, broadening its focus to address a wider array of geopolitical and geoeconomic priorities,” said the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
He added that the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force (AGTF) report and findings will be presented at the AEM meeting for review and for ASEAN economic ministers’ information tomorrow.
Tengku Zafrul also highlighted the need to integrate economic and political considerations in shaping ASEAN’s long-term strategies.
“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,” he said.
Also present at the AGTF meeting were Indonesia’s Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri and Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong.
ASEAN comprises 10 member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Tengku Zafrul will chair the 57th AEM meeting tomorrow, attended by ASEAN economic ministers together with ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.
The 39th ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council and the 28th ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) council meetings will also take place tomorrow.
The 57th AEM and related meetings from Sept 22–26 under Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN chairmanship, themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, feature 20 meetings and side programmes, including engagements with ASEAN dialogue partners and sectoral dialogue partners.
— BERNAMA
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