KUCHING: The First Asean Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting (SEOM 1/56) for the Fifty-Sixth Meeting of the Asean Economic Ministers and Related Meetings was held focusing on three main agendas in an effort to strengthen regional economic cooperation.
Under the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, Malaysia’s deputy secretary-general of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Mastura Ahmad Mustafa disclosed that the meeting this time around include the 2025 Annual Priorities (APs); the nation’s Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) for 2025; and reviewing the Asean Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan for 2026-2030.
On the PEDs, she said, Malaysia as the chair of the meeting has presented 18 PEDs in the meeting which received zero objections from the other participating countries.
“All these 18 PEDs will be presented to the Asean Economic Ministers meeting at the end of February for approval before being announced to the public,” she said.
She said this when met by the media during the SEOM 1/56 welcoming dinner at Waterfront Hotel Kuching here last night.
She also noted that the list of APs, which outlines this year’s economic related programmes and initiatives by sectoral bodies under SEOM, are almost 100 per cent ready to be presented to the Asean economic ministers.
“The 2025 PEDs and APs will continue to support and enhance Asean’s economic endeavours in deepening regional integration; enhancing regional connectivity; promoting innovation and digital transformation; and strengthening regional resilience which includes among others food security, energy security and financial stability for the region.”
Having said that, she stressed that the SEOM meeting has consistently played a crucial role in advancing the regional agenda and realising the vision of a highly integrated and cohesive Asean Economic Community, thereby reinforcing the foundational elements that position Asean as the fifth-largest economy in the world.
“In this context, we bear a significant responsibility to make informed decisions that will effectively shape the growth trajectory of Asean’s economic agenda.
“Through this effort, Malaysia aims to ensure Asean remains competitive and resilient in an interconnected world, aligning with its vision to become the world’s 4th largest economic bloc by 2023,” she said.
