Latest news with #AseanIntegration
The Star
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Brunei youth strengthen regional ties at Asean Conference in Singapore
Young Entrepreneurs Association of Brunei members in a group photo. - YEAB BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Young Entrepreneurs Association of Brunei (YEAB) recently participated in the Asean Conference 2025 at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore. The four-day programme included the AseanNext Forum and the main conference under the theme 'Asean Integration in a Multipolar World'. Attended by policymakers, government officials, business leaders and civil society organisations across South-East Asia, the event served as a platform to explore the region's strategic direction in a shifting global landscape. Hosted by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), the conference marked another milestone in advancing regional cooperation and supporting Brunei's economic diversification efforts. The event saw speakers including chairman of the SBF SS Teo, deputy chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of UOB Wee Ee Cheong, CEO of the SBF Kok Ping Soon, chair of Asean-BAC 2025 Nazir Razak and regional head, corporate and transactional practices, Rajah and Tann Singapore LLP Chia Kim Huat. YEAB was represented by president Goh Chai Li, alongside full members Albert Shim, Ayesha Salleh, Ahmad Fauzi and Louis Loo. Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong was the guest of honour. YEAB is also set to attend the Asean Young Entrepreneurs Carnival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in October. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
Malay Mail
16-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Malaysia pushes regional energy agenda at Asean meeting, eyes grid integration and green growth
KUCHING, June 16 — Malaysia reaffirmed its firm commitment to driving regional energy cooperation with a focus on inclusivity and sustainability, as it chaired the 43rd Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) held here today. Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra), Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli, stated that the theme for Malaysia's energy sector engagements, 'Powering Asean: Bridging Boundaries, Building Prosperity,' reflects the broader vision of Malaysia's Asean Chairmanship. 'This theme is important to emphasise the need for energy and dynamism in driving the region's development to propel Asean forward. 'It also reflects the ultimate goal of Asean integration, which is to improve the lives of its citizens by promoting economic growth, creating jobs and focusing on inclusivity and sustainability that will benefit all segments of society,' he said in his opening remarks at the meeting. He also expressed confidence that today's discussions would deliver tangible progress aligned with Malaysia's Priority Economic Deliverables and Asean's 2025 priorities, particularly on key initiatives such as the Asean Power Grid Memorandum of Understanding and the Terms of Reference for the Subsea Power Cable Development Framework. 'These collaborative efforts will certainly lay the groundwork for the 43rd Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), which will be hosted in Kuala Lumpur,' he added. The 43rd Asean-SOME and its associated meetings began today and will run until June 18, drawing around 250 delegates, including senior energy officials and representatives from the Asean Secretariat and the Asean Centre for Energy. All 10 Asean member states, namely Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, are participating, with Timor-Leste attending as an observer. They are joined by dialogue partners China, South Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States, along with representatives from the International Renewable Energy Agency, International Energy Agency, Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia, Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Grab launches ‘Kerana Asean' campaign to support Malaysia's chairmanship
Grab said over 99% of its drivers achieve or exceed the minimum wage rate each month. (File pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Grab Malaysia (Grab) has launched the 'Kerana Asean' campaign which aims to educate and raise public awareness on Malaysia's importance as the Asean chair this year and its important role in fostering regional cooperation and integration. Grab in a statement announced that the campaign is part of the #GrabBersamaAsean initiative which was implemented in strategic collaboration with the foreign affairs ministry. According to Grab, the initiative supports the principles of 'inclusivity and sustainability' which is the theme of Malaysia's leadership in Asean, in addition to strengthening its commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles. Grab Malaysia managing director Adelene Foo, in the same statement, said that through the initiative, it aims to translate regional priorities into tangible benefits that are meaningful to Malaysians. 'This is in line with our mission to empower the communities we serve through accessible and inclusive technology, driving a more inclusive and sustainable future. 'We look forward to strengthening Asean integration and ensuring that its benefits are delivered to communities across the region,' she said. As part of the campaign, Grab also participated in a special exhibition in conjunction with the 46th Asean Summit showcasing inclusive digital technologies such as AI Merchant, Assistant and AI Driver Companion to assist partners and drivers with real-time guidance and targeted recommendations. Grab also shared its 2024 ESG achievements, including generating US$12.8 billion (RM54 billion) in revenue for driver-partners and merchants on its platform, with over 99% of drivers reaching or exceeding the minimum wage rate each month. In addition, over 135,000 individuals, including women and persons with disabilities (OKU), are also generating income through the platform. In pursuit of sustainability, Grab has deployed 18 AI-operated reverse vending machines (since 2023, for public to deposit rinsed single-use cutlery, plastic containers, aluminium cans and PET bottles) across the Klang Valley with strategic partners, diverting nearly 10 tonnes of plastic waste to be recycled by a certified processor (Asasrama Sdn Bhd). According to the statement, the company is also implementing a refillable milk bottle initiative through a collaboration with Jaya Grocer and Farm Fresh, which can reduce over seven tonnes of disposable paper cartons and sell over 220,000 litres of milk in reusable glass bottles. The 'Kerana Asean' campaign is scheduled to run throughout the year, involving various online and offline activities.
Malay Mail
16-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Singapore DPM: Asean set to conclude Atiga talks by month's end to lower tariffs, remove trade barriers
SINGAPORE, May 16 — Negotiations to upgrade the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), chaired by Singapore, are nearing completion and expected to conclude by the end of this month, said Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. Gan, who is also the Minister for Trade and Industry, said the move reflects Asean's strong commitment to deeper integration and regional cooperation. He said the upgrade seeks to further lower tariffs and remove non-tariff barriers to facilitate trade among Asean member countries. 'We are close to concluding the negotiation of ATIGA. This is an important step forward that will signal to the world that we continue to want to be able to work with one another, we continue to trade with one another and we continue to push ahead with Asean integration,' he told a media doorstop on Friday. He noted that there is also discussion among Asean members on the possibility of strengthening partnerships with other organisations such as the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Gan who is also the chair of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT) also reiterated Singapore's commitment to deepening its partnership with like-minded partners, especially Asean, as part of the country's long-term approach to navigating uncertainties and enhancing economic resilience following the US tariffs. He said Singapore would continue to strengthen and deepen partnerships, including through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), to open up more opportunities. Meanwhile, Gan said Singapore is currently focusing its negotiations with the US on sectoral tariffs, such as pharmaceuticals, as Washington is not likely to back down on the 10 per cent baseline tariffs it has set on most countries, including Singapore. He said the negotiations include potential concession for Singapore or preferential tariffs—possibly even zero tariffs—for pharmaceutical exports to the US. Gan noted that since US imports to Singapore already enjoy zero tariffs, the United States is likely to focus on facilitating smoother trade flows and enhancing the security of supply chains. The US had previously announced its intention to introduce tariffs on sectors such as pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. Meanwhile, Gan said the outlook remains uncertain for Singapore and the global economy despite positive developments from the US-China trade talks. 'What will happen at the end of the 90 days is still a big question mark, it is yet to be known, and whether the negotiations with the other countries will progress smoothly, whether they will eventually settle at a level that is mutually agreeable and workable is something yet to be seen,' he said. — Bernama
