The attempt aims to encourage stronger regional economic integration and promote projects which have immediate and long-term impacts.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chairperson of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) Arsjad Rasjid said he is optimistic that Southeast Asia will become a center of global stability and economy by 2045.

ASEAN-BAC and related stakeholders will outline a road map to strengthen centrality, implement innovative solutions, and advocate inclusivity to increase regional resilience so that ASEAN can become a growth center, he informed at the ASEAN Leaders' Interface Meeting with Representatives of ASEAN-BAC here on Wednesday.

As a strategic partner of the government from the business sector, ASEAN-BAC will continue to support the region as an area that upholds inclusivity for parties to help them keep growing together, he added.

"No one left behind, all ASEAN member countries will grow together and become a part of ASEAN's journey as an epicenter of global economic growth," Rasjid, who is also head of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), continued.

ASEAN-BAC always provides various strategic suggestions from the private sector to the leaders of ASEAN countries, he said.

"The attempt aims to encourage stronger regional economic integration and promote projects which have immediate and long-term impacts," he added.

Deputy chairperson of ASEAN-BAC, Bernardino Vega, said that ASEAN-BAC has continued to encourage the implementation of a single market program through non-tariff barrier regulation; service trade integration; as well as better flow of investment, skilled workers, business actors, and capital.

ASEAN-BAC will provide recommendations on several issues, namely digital transformation, sustainable development, health security, food security, as well as trade and investment facilities, to the government.

Various legacy projects have been developed by ASEAN-BAC to address the issues.

The projects are the ASEAN Quick Response (QR) Code, Marketplace Lending Platform, Wiki Entrepreneur, ASEAN Net Zero Hub, Carbon Center of Excellence, ASEAN One Shot Campaign, Inclusive Closed-Loop Model for Agricultural Product, and ASEAN Business Entity.

“These five main issues and eight legacy projects (are expected to) have significant relevance and broad impact on the ASEAN community. These are what ASEAN-BAC will encourage at the meeting with heads of state of ASEAN member countries," executive director of ASEAN-BAC, Gil Gonzales, noted.

ASEAN-BAC is a non-governmental organization comprising prominent business leaders from all ASEAN countries and acts as a liaison between the business sector and governments.

It provides advice and recommendations to governments on economic and business policies to advance ASEAN as a competitive and sustainable economic region.

The ASEAN Leaders' Interface Meeting with Representatives of ASEAN-BAC was one of the series of meetings held amid the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.

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Translator: Kelik Dewanto, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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