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3rd September 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia

Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd. Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II attended the 23rd ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting (23rd AECC) on the 3rd September 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs of Indonesia and attended by AECC Ministers from the ten (10) ASEAN Member States and Timor Leste as observer. Also in attendance was His Excellency Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary General of ASEAN.

AECC Ministers reviewed the progress under ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) including the progress of Indonesia’s 16 Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs). The ministers also exchanged views on AEC’s cross-pillar initiatives related to sustainability and digitalisation as well as progress made in implementation of AEC Blueprint 2025. 

The meeting also served as a platform for AECC Ministers to officially launch the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) negotiations, following the endorsement of the DEFA Study and Framework for Negotiation. The DEFA is expected to enhance ASEAN’s digital economy potential in improving regional digital connectivity and providing new opportunities for economic activity. 

Yang Berhormat Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II among others, highlighted the importance of prioritising digital economy at the forefront of AEC agenda and in doing so, encouraged ASEAN to continue the good momentum that has been set in building towards a more digitally integrated ASEAN that remains to be open, rules-based and globally competitive. Additionally, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd. Amin Liew also emphasised the need to utilise cross-sectoral coordination and dialogues especially under AEC’s sustainability initiatives which requires close collaboration amongst Governments as well as with the other relevant stakeholders. 

At the meeting, AECC Ministers also endorsed the 30 AEC Outcome Documents which are to be submitted to the 43rd ASEAN Summit scheduled to be held from 5th – 7th September 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

AECC Ministers also convened for Special Retreat Meeting, where Ministers engaged in discussions and exchange views regarding the AEC Post-2025 agenda especially in strategically charting the vision of ASEAN’s economic integration for the next 20 years.