UK supports ASEAN’s economic integration

Jakarta - The UK delegation to ASEAN held a seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 24 to discuss the ASEAN-UK economic integration programme.

Speaking at the event, UK Ambassador to ASEAN Sarah Tiffin said the UK has contributed over 19 million GBP (23.62 million USD) to support long-term improvement in business environment in seven ASEAN member countries. The programme is part of a series of initiatives aimed at promoting new dialogue partnership relations between the two sides.

She said this year marks the strengthening of the implementation of the UK's dialogue partnership, with a special focus on the establishment of the 25 million GBP ASEAN-UK economic integration programme.

It will be carried out over the next four years in all 10 ASEAN member states and Timor Leste, and aimed at poverty reduction in the region, particularly supporting economic empowerment for women and small businesses.

Delegates at the event discussed various issues, including the impact of the digital economy, trade barriers, access to financial resources, and empowering women to engage more in the economy.

The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.

The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) is taking place in Vietnam’s central city of Danang on April 22-26.

For the first time in the history of ASEAN, Vietnam will hold the ASEAN Future Forum this week as the country’s largest multilateral event with an aim to further boost intra-bloc in economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet talked with VIR’s Nguyen Dat about how important the event is to regional cooperation.

The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).