ASEAN Leaders Interface with ASEAN-BAC, 10 May

Organiser: The Republic of Indonesia

ASEAN-BAC Malaysia Chairman Tan Sri Nazir Razak attended the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with ASEAN-BAC held in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia alongside Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Senator Tengku Zafrul who represented the Malaysian government on behalf of Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The interface, which was chaired by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, saw ASEAN leaders acknowledging ASEAN-BAC roadshows as an effective way to promote enhanced coordination and collaboration between the public and private sectors, such as through meetings with sectoral bodies under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

ASEAN-BAC 2023 Chairman Bapak Arsjad Rasjid also presented ASEAN-BAC’s key themes for the year—digital transformation, sustainable development, health resilience, food security, trade and investment facilitation—during the meeting. Furthermore, ASEAN Business Entity, a recommendation of ASEAN-BAC Malaysia to encourage indigenous ASEAN companies to expand and invest in the region, was also included as a legacy project for 2023.

The meeting was attended by ASEAN-BAC Council Members as well as ASEAN-BAC Malaysia Executive Director Ms Jukhee Hong, while Timor Leste’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-TL) was invited to participate as an observer.