The delegation led by Myanmar HLTF-EI lead, Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Dr Wah Wah Maung joined the 43rd Meeting of the High-level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) which was held in Belitung, Indonesia on 1-3 March 2023.
At the meeting, HLTF-EI leads noted matters pertaining to the development of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision particularly from the perspective of the AEC pillar and the Priority Economic Deliverables under Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023. For ensuring the implementation of ASEAN’s sustainability agenda, HLTF-EI leads discussed the matters relating to the implementation of the Framework of Circular Economy Framework for the AEC, the development of the ASEAN Strategy on Carbon Neutrality, acceleration of new and renewable energy transition in the region and also the development of the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework.
HLTF-EI leads exchanged views on the ASEAN’s work on Good Regulatory Practices. In addition, the meeting also noted the progress of the implementation of the Consolidated Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution for ASEAN, the implementation of the Bandar Seri Begawan Roadmap on an ASEAN Digital Transformation Agenda to accelerate ASEAN’s Economic Recovery and Digital Economy Integration, and the proposal for the establishment of an ASEAN Creative Economy Working Group under the AEC Pillar.
Moreover, the meeting discussed the recommendations for the consideration of the 29th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat which will be held on 22 March 2023.
The deputy minister discussed to consider the development gap of socioeconomy among ASEAN Member States to consider in developing of ASEAN Economic Community Post 2025 Vision, to strengthen the digital technology transformation which is important for regional development and connecting in the global value chain. She also expressed that investment in the digital sector is important for MSMEs to use broadly in this sector. She also stated that human resource development plays a vital role in the digital divide among the ASEAN Member States. The deputy minister discussed that advanced technology leads to increase productivity as well as increased job loss, therefore, it is needed to create new job opportunities and innovation. She welcomed the proposal for the establishment of an ASEAN Creative Economy Working Group under the AEC Pillar and the development of the ASEAN Leaders Declaration on Developing Regional Electric Vehicle Ecosystem. She also explained that Myanmar sets up the electric vehicles policy in order to be in line with energy transformation and environmental conservation in the country. She expressed that cross-sector cooperation is needed for developing the circular economy, the initiatives of energy transition and carbon neutrality are complementary and interconnected with each other.
The meeting was chaired by Dr Edi Prio Pambudi, Deputy Minister for International Economic Cooperation of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of Indonesia and attended by the leads and representatives of the High-level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration from the ASEAN Member States, and the officials from the ASEAN Secretariat. Deputy Minister also attended the multi-stakeholders dialogue on the development of the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework and New Regional Economic Potentials.
The High-level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) is the think tank of the ASEAN Economic Community which is composed of the deputy ministers’ level from ASEAN Member States. — MNA
