Latest news with #ASEANWomenEconomicSummit
Barnama
25-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
DPM Fadillah Calls For ASEAN Member States To Strengthen Energy Cooperation
By Aisha Hani Nor Azmir & Harizah Hanim Mohamed KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- ASEAN member states must strengthen regional energy cooperation as part of a shared prosperity strategy, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said cross-border partnerships in the energy sector are already seen through collaborations between Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. 'For instance, Laos supplies energy to Singapore, but it must pass through Thailand and Malaysia, so Laos pays a wheeling fee for transmitting through our power grid. 'However, sometimes during winter, water sources freeze and the supply is disrupted. At that point, Laos may draw power from Thailand and Malaysia to continue supplying Singapore. This shows how ASEAN member states support and help one another.' He told reporters this after the Luncheon Power Talk session - Shared Prosperity: The New Imperative for ASEAN's Economic Growth held in conjunction with the ASEAN Women Economic Summit (AWES) 2025 here today. Singapore currently imports up to 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from Laos through a cross-border initiative called the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP). This will double to a maximum of 200MW of renewable hydropower, with supply from Malaysia as well. Fadillah said Malaysia remains committed to implementing the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and is actively working towards realising the ASEAN Power Grid to establish a connected and sustainable energy ecosystem. Citing the recent gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Fadillah said Malaysia had entered into discussions with Thailand to supply gas to the country's northern region, following the shutdown of the affected pipeline.
Borneo Post
25-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Premier: Sarawak aims to cut hydrogen production energy cost by over 60 pct
Abang Johari is confident Sarawak can lower hydrogen production costs. – Ukas photo KUCHING (May 25): The Sarawak government is optimistic that hydrogen production energy costs can be reduced to just 10 kilowatt hours per kilogramme (kWh/kg), down from the current 30 kWh/kg, through strategic collaborations with global partners. Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the target is achievable through ongoing cooperation with renowned German energy company Siemens Energy, as part of the state's efforts to enhance the energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen production. 'There is potential for these costs to be reduced further. Through our ongoing collaboration with Siemens, we are targeting an energy consumption of around 10 kWh per kilogramme of hydrogen. 'What I am saying here is that we are moving towards clean hydrogen,' he said during the ASEAN Women Economic Summit (AWES) panel session on 'Leading ASEAN Sustainability and Digitalisation' held in Kuala Lumpur today, as reported by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas). Abang Johari further said that through joint research efforts with the Petronas Research Division and a Japanese company, Sarawak has successfully reduced energy consumption for hydrogen production from 60 kWh/kg to 30 kWh/kg using new membrane technology. 'This research not only saves energy but also helps Sarawak meet environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards,' he explained. He stressed that clean energy development will be a significant contribution by Sarawak and Malaysia toward creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly world. Earlier, Abang Johari also visited the AWES 2025 exhibition along with other invited guests. Also present were Federal Deputy Minister of Economy, Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib; Sarawak Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development), Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel; Secretary-General of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Dato Hairil Yahri Yaacob; Founder of the Women Leadership Foundation, Tan Sri Datin Paduka Siti Sa'diah Sheikh Bakir; AWES 2025 Chair and Women Leadership Foundation Founder, Datuk (Dr) Hafsah Hashim; CEO of UOB Malaysia, Ng Wei Wei, as well as other invited guests. Abang Johari Tun Openg clean energy hydrogen production
BusinessToday
24-05-2025
- Business
- BusinessToday
Harnessing Women's Talent Across ASEAN: Potential US$2.3 Trillion Economic Boost, Minister
Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz delivered a powerful keynote address at the ASEAN Women Economic Summit (AWES) 2025, emphasising the critical role of women's empowerment in driving economic growth and resilience across the region. The summit, a flagship initiative under Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship, convened prominent figures from government, business, and civil society at the Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Minister Zafrul underscored the significant demographic of women in ASEAN, representing nearly 50% of the population. However, he highlighted sobering statistics, including lower labor force participation rates, underrepresentation in senior management, and greater barriers to credit for women entrepreneurs. He warned that global challenges like trade tensions and climate change could exacerbate these inequalities. 'These gaps aren't just unfair – they're economically irrational,' stated Minister Zafrul. He stressed that empowering women is not merely a matter of social justice but an economic imperative. Citing research, he noted that advancing women's equality could add a staggering $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025, with Malaysia alone potentially boosting its GDP by 8.2%, equivalent to $50 billion, by closing gender gaps. The Minister outlined Malaysia's commitment to women's empowerment through its MADANI Economy framework, which prioritises inclusivity. He detailed concrete measures implemented by his ministry (MITI), including the Women Exporters Development Programme, gender-responsive trade provisions, a RM200-million fund for women entrepreneurs in high-growth sectors, and the Women in Industry and Trade Initiative (WITI). Notably, he highlighted that women constitute 69% of MITI's top management. Looking regionally, Minister Zafrul emphasised Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability,' aiming to ensure that opportunities are accessible to all, including women. He pointed to the immense potential of harnessing women's talents across ASEAN economies, estimating a potential $2.3 trillion boost. He also highlighted the resilience and innovation that diverse, women-led businesses bring to the challenging global landscape. Malaysia is actively pursuing ambitious national targets, including increasing women's workforce participation to 63% by 2030, ensuring 30% female representation on corporate boards, doubling the number of women-led businesses in export markets, and establishing ASEAN's first Women's Economic Empowerment Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The Minister also posed critical questions for AWES 2025 to address, seeking actionable feedback on policy harmonization, access to finance (including a potential $1 billion ASEAN fund), digital upskilling for women, dedicated support for women industrialists and exporters, and strategies to build a robust female leadership pipeline. In his concluding remarks, Zafrul expressed his hope for an ASEAN where every girl sees limitless possibilities, every woman entrepreneur has equal access, every company benefits from diverse leadership, and every economy grows stronger through inclusive participation. He urged leaders to inspire change, share experiences, mentor generously, and lead fearlessly, echoing Malala Yousafzai's powerful words: 'We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.' Minister Zafrul officially declared the ASEAN Women Economic Summit 2025 open, expressing his conviction that it will be a key turning point for women's empowerment in the region. Related
