: Investments in ASEAN can be significantly increased by effectively leveraging three megatrends, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Malaysia, as the ASEAN chair next year, will set the regional integration agenda for the grouping with the launch of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 during its chairmanship. According to him, many ASEAN dialogue partners, including India, China, the European Union and the United States, are revising their outlook and commitment to strengthen or expand trade and investment ties with ASEAN, particularly in emerging areas of growth.
Therefore, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry , which will lead Malaysia’s chairmanship in the economic pillar, aims to drive ASEAN-wide projects that facilitate regional sharing of expertise in green technology, supporting ASEAN countries that find the sustainability journey more challenging, he said.
On the digital transformation megatrend, he said that while ASEAN countries are investing in digital infrastructure to enhance connectivity and drive economic growth, a forward-looking ASEAN Digital Economy Framework – currently being negotiated – is key for regional digital integration.He also said that digital transformation and innovation are central to ASEAN’s reindustrialisation efforts.