KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) — YB Datuk Darell Leiking, Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) led the Malaysian delegation at the 25th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Retreat and Related Meetings from 22 – 23 April 2019 in Phuket, Thailand.
The Economic Ministers exchanged views and deliberated on the 13 economic priority deliverables under the Thailand’s Chairmanship of ASEAN 2019, operationalisation of AEC 2025 Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework, and progress updates of ASEAN external relations including work towards the conclusion of RCEP and ASEAN engagement in the WTO reforms. The Economic Ministers also considered the recommendations made by the High Level Task Force on Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) to the AEMs which include the development of the next steps for advancing ASEAN’s work on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the ongoing assessment of new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) issues, and the streamlining of AEC work processes. The Economic Ministers were also briefed by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) on its priorities and initiatives for 2019, as well as the recommendations by the private sectors.