ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting Prepares To Welcome 500 Delegates

By Nur Athirah Mohd Shaharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- Preparations for the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting and related meetings in the nation's capital are progressing smoothly, with several final preparations being carried out to ensure the smooth conduct of these meetings.

A total of 20 meetings and side programmes are expected to take place from Sept 22 to 26, with over 500 delegates from ASEAN countries and dialogue partners in attendance.

A Bernama survey at the event venue, the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), found that staff members are working diligently to complete final preparations ahead of the start of the meetings.

Deputy Secretary General (Trade) of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, said she was satisfied with the preparations so far.

“Almost 80 percent is ready, and we hope that tomorrow when they come in, the meeting can begin smoothly,” she told Bernama after inspecting the preparations here.

Additionally, the Media Secretariat team is finalising the installation of electronic devices and internet services at the International Media Centre (IMC).

Speaking to Bernama, the coordinator of the International Media Centre (IMC), Zaria Mohd Nasri, said that around 300 media practitioners from local and international news agencies are expected to cover the event.

Zaria, who is also the head of the Media Secretariat, said that preparations such as the installation of the internet and electronic equipment are being actively carried out to facilitate media staff tomorrow.

"At this stage, 95% of the installation work has been completed and is expected to be fully finished by Sunday afternoon. The secretariat team has also started preparations for the first meeting tomorrow, the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM).

"The media registration team is also preparing for the media pass collection session this afternoon, which took place around 4 pm. Overall, preparations for tomorrow are expected to run smoothly," she said.

Additionally, the secretariat team has set up a media interview desk and a media help desk to ease and expedite the media's task of obtaining information.

Zaria said Bernama has been entrusted by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) to manage media centre preparations.

Besides Malaysia, ASEAN is made up of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, while its dialogue partners include China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. 

-- BERNAMA