"ASEAN-Japan Business Week 2023 - Toward Innovative and Sustainable Growth -" Starts

1. ASEAN-Japan Business Week 2023

On the first day, June 5, an opening session was held. At the beginning of the session, the following representatives delivered speeches: METI Minister Nishimura; Secretary-General of ASEAN H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn; H.E. Dr. Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Minister of Industry of Indonesia; H.E. Mr. Alfredo E. Pascual, Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippines; Mr. Arsjad Rasjid, Chairman, ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC); Mr. Kobayashi Ken, Chairman, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry　(JCCI); and Mr. Nishimura Hidetoshi, President, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). Following this, related organizations exchanged four cooperation documents in total.

Subsequently, bringing together representatives of the industry, government and academia sectors in ASEAN and Japan, opinion exchange was held on the following two subjects: [i] future directions of ASEAN-Japan economic ties based on the Interim Report on the ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Vision released on June 5, 2023, and [ii] the potential of ASEAN and Japan in view of two coming events titled “ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit” and “ASEAN-Japan Generation Z Leaders’ Summit” to be held at the end of 2023. Moreover, separate sessions were also held focusing on such subjects as the roles of ASEAN and Japan amid the changing global situation.

The following are the highlights of Minister Nishimura’s statements delivered during the opening session.

• Japan believes that creating a future together between ASEAN, which is rich in vitality and undergoing significant change, and Japan, which has high-level technologies, is the direction in which ASEAN-Japan economic ties should aim. Based on this belief, we released the Interim Report on the ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Vision.
• Aiming to co-create with ASEAN a carbon-neutral society, Japan will promote specific projects, including the introduction of renewable energy, under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Concept and other efforts.
• Providing large companies and startups in ASEAN and Japan with opportunities to meet by holding such events as fast-track pitch events will work to encourage ASEAN and Japan to become major hubs for creating innovations.
• Aiming to build networks among people who support these efforts, Japan and related organizations will invite young leaders, entrepreneurs and others from ASEAN and Japan and hold two events titled “ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit” and “ASEAN-Japan Generation Z Leaders’ Summit.”
• Japan welcomed the signing of cooperation documents to realize the Vision between JETRO and ASEAN-BAC and between Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) and MUFG Bank, Ltd., respectively, as an effort for achieving the Vision.

To register to attend any of the sessions, visit the website for ASEAN-Japan Business Week 2023 below. (On and after June 7, only registration for online sessions will be accepted.)

2. Convening of ASEAN-Japan Co-Creation Fast Track Initiative (events in Thailand and Indonesia)

In commemoration of the 50th year of friendship and cooperation between ASEAN and Japan this year, METI and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), in collaboration with government agencies of ASEAN economies, have launched a measure titled “ASEAN-Japan Co-Creation Fast Track Initiative” in order to encourage startups and large companies in ASEAN and Japan to work together and create open innovation.

Under the ASEAN-Japan Co-Creation Fast Track Initiative, startups in ASEAN and Japan will have the opportunity to (1) receive support not only from Japanese organizations such as JETRO, but also from government agencies of ASEAN Member States, and (2) gain access to not only major Japanese companies but also a wide range of startup ecosystems, including global companies based in ASEAN.

METI and JETRO will promote open innovation for the mutual growth of ASEAN and Japan through this initiative and will execute leadership in creating global innovation.

Future schedule: For more information, visit the JETRO website below for each event.

Thailand: Closing date of application: July 2, 2023; Pitch event by finalists: August 7, 2023 (tentative)

In Thailand, METI and JETRO, jointly with the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) and the Ministry of Energy of Thailand, will hold “Zest Thailand: Thailand-Japan Fast Track Pitch Event 2023” in collaboration with the PTT Group as a co-organizer. In this event, four Japanese companies and PTT Group will provide challenges for promising startups to solve. The event has opened a call for startups’ proposals.

• Website for registration

Indonesia: Closing date of application: July 31, 2023; Pitch event by finalists: September 1, 2023 (tentative)

In Indonesia, METI and JETRO will hold an event jointly with the Government to undertake Economic Surveys of Indonesia. At the event, Japanese and Indonesian companies will provide challenges that need to be solved. The event has opened a call for startups’ proposals on June 6, 2023, today.

• Website for registration

3. Convening of two events “ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit” and “ASEAN-Japan Generation Z Leaders’ Summit”

METI, JETRO and ASEAN-BAC will jointly hold ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit in December 2023, as an effort to create new “connections” among young business leaders in ASEAN and Japan who are expected to play key roles in the next generation. In the lead up to the summit, JETRO and ASEAN-BAC agreed on close cooperation and exchanged three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) during the opening session of ASEAN-Japan Business Week 2023.

The ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit will bring together promising human resources expected to become future business leaders in ASEAN and Japan and provide them with opportunities to jointly discuss and propose solutions to societal challenges in both regions, thereby aiming to build and fortify mutual understanding and a trusting relationship between ASEAN and Japan.

During ASEAN-Japan Business Week 2023, Mr. Niinami Takeshi, who is Co-chair of the Steering Committee of the summit, as well as Chairman of Keizai Doyukai and President of Suntory Holdings Limited, delivered a speech and communicated his expectations for the convening of the summit.

4. Cooperation documents to enrich ASEAN-Japan economic ties

With Minister Nishimura, Secretary-General Kao, Minister Agus and Secretary Pascual acting as witnesses, JETRO and ASEAN-BAC as well as MUFG Bank, Ltd. and NEXI signed cooperation documents and exchanged them.

These organizations exchanged the following four documents.

[JETRO and ASEAN-BAC]

(1) Cooperation in organizing the ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit and Generation Z Business Leaders’ Summit

(2) Cooperation in Promoting the ASEAN-Japan Co-Creation Fast Track initiative

(3) Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) and ASEAN Net Zero Hub

[MUFG Bank, Ltd. and NEXI]

(4) Basic Agreement on Promoting Study of Finance Schemes Using Blended Finance Concerning Asia Zero Emission Community, etc.

5. Bilateral meetings and other occasions

(1) Meeting with Chairman Arsjad Rasjid, ASEAN-BAC (Chairman, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Indonesia (KADIN))

Minister Nishimura and Chairman Arsjad Rasjid noted the exchange of the three MOUs between JETRO and ASEAN-BAC above and confirmed the importance of collaboration among business communities in ASEAN and Japan in advancing projects. They also agreed to advance specific efforts for establishing networks between young people, promoting open innovation and decarbonization in the Asian region.

(2) Meeting with H,E, Mr, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Minister of Industry, the Republic of Indonesia

The two ministers exchanged views on such fields as bilateral cooperation, including energy, ASEAN-Japan cooperation and trade policies. They also confirmed the further enriching of Japan-Indonesia economic ties.

(3) Meeting with H.E Mr. Alfredo Pascual, Secretary of the Department of trade and Industry, the Republic of the Philippines

The two ministers confirmed cooperation in priority industrial fields, such as automobiles and electronics, and enhancement of collaboration to create innovations. They also exchanged views on the future directions of ASEAN-Japan cooperation and trade relationships.

(4) Meeting with Dr. KAO Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN

The two sides held fruitful discussions on the ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Vision that is developed by business sectors in ASEAN and Japan, and a new action plan that will be endorsed by the governments based on the Vision. In addition, they exchanged views on energy cooperation, RCEP and other issues and agreed to further strengthen collaboration between ASEAN and Japan in commemoration of the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation this year.

Division in Charge

Asia and Pacific Division, Trade Policy Bureau