He made this request during his remarks at the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC), Malaysia, on Tuesday.
"We must collaborate to harmonize halal standards and have a mechanism to mutually recognize our halal certification. We must also increase joint investment to boost capacity building," he affirmed.
He then proposed the establishment of an ASEAN-GCC business network to facilitate routine exchanges and partnerships between business actors in the two regions.
For the halal industry sector, the president believes that ASEAN and the GCC are natural partners in this sector.
During this meeting, he also addressed the issue of protecting ASEAN migrant workers employed in Gulf countries.
In his view, regional cooperation needs to be strengthened to ensure the principle of decent work.
"We must ensure fair wages, safe and healthy working conditions, and increase the number of skilled workers," he added.
He also assessed that now is the right time to bring the ASEAN and GCC regions closer together for the benefit of their people.
With a trade value reaching US$120 billion, Prabowo expressed optimism about the huge opportunity to increase cooperation between the two regions.
To that end, Prabowo welcomed the plan to conduct a joint feasibility study related to the formation of the ASEAN-GCC free trade area.
The ASEAN-GCC Summit is part of the 46th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur.
On the previous day, leaders of member countries attended the plenary session of the Summit, a retreat agenda, a meeting between ASEAN and the parliaments of ASEAN countries (AIPA), a meeting between ASEAN and representatives of ASEAN youth, and a meeting with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC).
They also jointly signed the ASEAN Declaration 2045: Our Shared Future.
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Translator: Mentari Dwi G, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Primayanti
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