ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Malaysia Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Munir Majid and CARI ASEAN Research & Advocacy (CARI) Executive Director Ms Jukhee Hong were invited to speak at the ASEAN-Japan Business Week 2022 on 30 May 2022 alongside Vice Chairman of the Japan Section of the ASEAN-Japan Business Council Mr Saito Tomatsu and Director General of the Overseas Research Department of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Mr Wakamatsu Isamu. The event was opened by Okhna Sok Piseth, representing ASEAN-BAC 2022 Chair Neak Okhna Kith Meng and Ms Shinta W Kamdani, KADIN Indonesia Coordinating Vice Chairwoman of Maritime, Investment and International Relations and Chair of B20 Indonesia. The session was moderated by Mr Kobayashi Hirokazu, Chair of the AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) Dialogue for Innovative and Sustainable Growth (DISG) Task Force.

Ms Jukhee Hong, who led the research, presented the survey research conducted by CARI on “ASEAN Business Community 2022: Potential for ASEAN-Japan Co-creation”. The report aims to understand ASEAN companies’ sentiments towards Japanese businesses and their government to enhance Japan-ASEAN economic cooperation further. The survey received responses from more than 450 private and publicly listed companies, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Tan Sri Munir highlighted the importance of the report’s publication at a pivotal point in Japan-ASEAN relations and during a time when the world is going through significant change. He acknowledged Japan’s strength in technology, which was highlighted by 80% of respondents. He also underlined the need for Japan to increase women’s participation in corporate leadership, ASEAN-Japan potential collaboration in agriculture and food security, and the sustainability agenda.