KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC) has proposed rebranding the SEA Games as the “Asean Games” to strengthen regional identity.
The proposal is part of 12 flagship initiatives aimed at advancing economic integration during Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship.
Led by Asean-BAC Malaysia this year, the council has been engaging with Asean bodies to advance its flagship proposals, it said in a statement today.
These include the Asean Business Entity framework, which aims to facilitate cross-border operations by creating a new regional business category.
Another key initiative is the Asean Common Carbon Market, intended to build a unified carbon credit market, alongside efforts to harmonise initial public offering prospectuses across member states.
The council also proposed rebranding the SEA Games as the “Asean Games” to strengthen regional identity.
“These initiatives have been progressing steadily through formal consultations, including at the 31st Asean Economic Ministers’ Retreat and the 12th Asean Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting,” said Asean-BAC chairman Tan Sri Nazir Razak.
A formal dialogue with Asean leaders is scheduled during the 46th Asean Summit later this month.
Nazir said the current global economic uncertainty underscores the need for Asean to deepen regional integration and cooperation. “If we cannot turbo-charge Asean integration now, when can we?” he said.
Asean-BAC aims to position the private sector at the centre of regional development as Asean prepares to implement its Economic Community Strategic Plan 2025–2045.
To that end, the council is planning to intensify engagement with policymakers to translate these proposals into action during the second half of 2025.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
