2023 will be a tough year for ASEAN as the bloc may face many challenges in the time to come, heard the 2023 Regional Outlook Forum (ROF 2023) held in Singapore on January 10 by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS-Yusof Ishak).
(2023 will be a tough year for ASEAN as the bloc may face many challenges in the time to come,Photo: asean.org)
Singapore (VNA)💜 – 2023 will be atough year for ASEAN as the bloc may face many challenges in the time to come, heard the 2023 Regional Outlook Forum (ROF 2023) held in Singapore on January 10 by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS-YusofIshak).
Under the theme “Understanding the Driver of Change ina disrupted world”, ROF 2023 focused on discussing impacts of world conflictson the security environment in Southeast Asia, drivers of changes and disruptionin the regional economic panorama. Sharon Seah, Coordinator of the ASEAN Studies Centreand Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme at the institute, said ASEAN is forecast to face many challenges in 2023 - fromthe immediate challenges coming from elections in Malaysia, the Philippines in2022; elections in Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar in 2023, to the long-termchallenge of maintaining solidarity and the key role of ASEAN in a changingworld. Therefore, the bloc needs to realise unity and solidarity as wellas promoting a clearer version of the “ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific”. The official emphasised that the biggest challenge forASEAN is that the global economic outlook will be very difficult in 2023. TheInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its global growth forecast to2.7%. About a third of the world’s economies are forecast tofall into recession this year, while the remaining two-thirds are alsostruggling to cope with supply disruptions, inflation, and price hikes. Sharon Seah acknowledged that as the ASEAN Chair in2023, Indonesia should harmonise trade agreements such as the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and Regional Comprehensive Economy Partnership (RCEP) to optimise the bloc’s benefitsas trade is a vital area for ASEAN. ROF is an annual conference organised by the Singapore-based institute to analyse the major trends and issues that will have the greatest impact on Southeast Asia in the short and medium terms, and predicting the situation in the regional countries. This year's edition marked a return after two years of being held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The forum saw the participation of former top officials and scholars in the region./.
Thailand has ranked first in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the latest Sustainable Development Report, according to Thipanan Sirichana, deputy government spokeswoman.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on January 11 that she will head an office that Indonesia – the rotating Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, is establishing to spearhead how the bloc deals with the crisis in Myanmar.
Indonesia, as ASEAN Chair in 2023, wants to see a resilient ASEAN that becomes a barometer for cooperation, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on January 11.
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
(2023 will be a tough year for ASEAN as the bloc may face many challenges in the time to come,Photo: asean.org) 
