ASEAN Must Create Conducive Investment Ecosystem, Support Intra-Regional Investments

JAKARTA, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- ASEAN member countries need to create a conducive investment ecosystem, including providing equal treatment to support investments by companies from fellow member countries and ensuring a more integrated regional supply chain.

Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said this was among the matters discussed during his meeting with Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, on the sidelines of the Indonesia Economic Summit (IES) 2026 here.

He said the approach would not only strengthen ASEAN’s supply chain integration but also encourage more investment and business opportunities in the region.

“We had exchanged views on how Malaysian companies can invest and grow in markets such as Indonesia, while becoming part of a more integrated ASEAN supply chain 

“For example, when Malaysian companies invest in Indonesia, they need to be given equal access and treatment, including in terms of customs and trade facilitation, so that they can support the regional supply chain,” he said in a post on the social media platform, X. 

Aside from policy discussions, Tengku Zafrul said his meeting with Airlangga also provided an opportunity to share new ideas and openly exchange views on how ASEAN can pursue progress together.

He said ASEAN is a region with great potential, but potential will not translate into results without proper implementation.

“In this increasingly volatile world, ASEAN’s strength does not lie in the number of summits or joint statements issued, but in consistent action to deliver strong and sustainable growth for the region,” he said.

On Tuesday, Tengku Zafrul participated as a panellist at an IES discussion session titled ‘The Trends Shaping ASEAN Economic Evolution and its Global Positioning’.

-- BERNAMA