Kadin Chairman Arsjad Rasjid: ASEAN Has Transformed Into A Strong Economy-Based Region

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Arsjad Rasjid said Indonesia's vision in the ASEAN Chair is to strengthen connectivity or relations between countries in the Southeast Asian region through the crucial role of business or private groups.

According to Arsjad, ASEAN has now transformed into a region with a strong and important economic base in the world.

"Currently, ASEAN is no longer seen as a regional power that is only a peripheral player in the global economy, but a region that has a strong economic base, and even plays an important role in multilateral cooperation," said Arsjad who is also Chair of the ASEAN-BAC (Business Advisory Council) 2023 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Central Jakarta, on Monday, January 30.

Arsjad said that currently, ASEAN is the region with the fifth largest economic growth in the world, so it has great potential to become a global investment center.

"ASEAN has become the basis for global production, consumption, innovation, and supply chains or what we call the epicenter of growth," he said.

Seeing the importance of ASEAN's position in the global economy, Arsjad invites business people who are members of ASEAN-BAC to be able to position ASEAN at the center of the global economic architecture as a common goal, through various technological and business innovations, and carrying out inclusivity practices.

"One of ASEAN's goals is to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region," he said.

To achieve this goal, ASEAN-BAC has identified five main priorities that must be resolved together.

First, the proliferation and adoption of digital transformation and digital inclusion which is very important for all residents and communities in it through the use of technology.

Second, sustainable development practices for the preservation, security, and health of the region and the planet in general. Third, in line with ASEAN's priorities this year to prepare for future crisis challenges through food security.

Fourth, health resilience, where the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the need to strengthen health systems and infrastructure in the Southeast Asian region.

Finally, ASEAN-BAC Indonesia will continue efforts to facilitate trade as an additional priority for this year's leadership.

"This is very important because ASEAN is in the phase of economic and business recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic," Arsjad explained.

For your information, this year's Indonesian Chairmanship carries the theme ASEAN Centrality: Innovating toward Greater Inclusivity. Kadin Indonesia through ASEAN-BAC would like to invite everyone to join in efforts to make ASEAN a center of global growth.