Prep-SEOM To Review Key Economic Issues Ahead Of AEM

By Ahmad Erwan Othman

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) --  Priority economic deliverables under Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship, as well as forward-looking strategies to navigate shifts in the geopolitical and global trade environment, are among issues to be deliberated by senior economic officials today. 

The Preparatory Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting (Prep-SEOM), chaired by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry’s (MITI) deputy secretary-general (Trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, will also review the culmination of ASEAN’s work under the Economic Pillar for 2025.

“Today, Prep-SEOM carries the important task of considering the agenda for the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM), which will mark the culmination of our collective work under the Economic Pillar for 2025.

“Thus, I look forward to facilitating discussions with SEOM colleagues in streamlining the presentation and exchanges between our ministers in ensuring tomorrow's meeting can be concluded in a timely manner,” she said in her keynote address here.

Also present were  ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) deputy secretary-general, Satvinder Singh and Timor-Leste’s representative to ASEAN, Augusto Jr Trindade.

Mastura said the 57th AEM, which will convene tomorrow, will see economic ministers addressing the AEM agenda in a condensed three-hour session.

Given that the ministers will also be attending the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council, the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council and ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) meetings, it is important that deliberations for the AEM remain focused and concise, she added.

The meetings will be chaired by MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz on the sidelines of the 57th AEM and related meetings, held starting today (Sept 22) to Friday (Sept 26).

ASEAN comprises 10 member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

-- BERNAMA