ASEAN in need of enterprises’ proactiveness, creativity: Deputy PM
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh attended the virtual ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2021 (ASEAN BIS) on October 25, saying that ASEAN is now in need of enterprises’ proactiveness and creativity to adapt to the new normal.
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh attends the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2021, held via videoconference on October 25 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham BinhMinh attended the virtual ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2021 (ASEAN BIS) on October25, saying that ASEAN is now in need of enterprises’ proactiveness andcreativity to adapt to the new normal.
In his remarks, the Deputy PM underlined thatthe pandemic control and economic recovery are dependent on not only endeavours by asingle government or country but also joint efforts by all the 10 ASEAN membersas well as partners.
He reaffirmedthe importance of the Consolidated Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution for ASEAN and the acceleration of the Strategic and Holistic Initiative to Link ASEANResponses to Emergencies and Disasters (ASEAN SHIELD), proposed by Brunei -Chair of the bloc in 2021.
Vietnam isready to cooperate in enhancing the digital infrastructure connectivity, ensuringa digital ecosystem for all parties towards uniform and sustainable digitaldevelopment in the region, and accompanying enterprises of ASEAN and partnercountries to create the best possible conditions in terms of policies and thebusiness environment so that they can optimise and maximise business andinvestment chances in Vietnam and regional countries, Minh stated.
The Vietnamese delegation at the virtual ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2021 (Photo: VNA)
The VietnameseGovernment will strive to help enterprises conduct digital transformation,boost digital universalisation, and create conditions for promoting investmentin high technology towards green growth, he added.
The DeputyPM expressed his hope that the business community will continue joining handswith ASEAN governments to defeat the pandemic and support economic recoverysince ASEAN is now in need of their dynamism, proactiveness, and creativity toadapt to the new normal, create jobs, ensure a stable life for people, andproduce new values for society and the community.
The ASEAN BIS is held annually by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council inconjunction with the bloc’s summits. It provides an occasion for the public andprivate sectors, and representatives of governments and industries in andoutside ASEAN to meet one another. It is also a platform for connecting andpromoting initiatives on ASEAN economic cooperation and integration./.
Brunei will host the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits virtually via 11 video conferences on October 26-28 amid concerns over the unsettled COVID-19 situation across the region, informed the Brunei Prime Minister's Office on October 23.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will lead a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to attend the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits, ASEAN summits with partners and the third Mekong-Republic of Korea (RoK) Summit via videoconference from October 26-28 at the invitation of Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hasanal Bolkiah – Chair of ASEAN 2021.
Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha will promote three key agendas at the 38th and 39th ASEAN summits and related meetings on October 26-28, according to Thai Government Spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana.
ASEAN needs right now a recovery plan that serves the interests of all member states, Dr. Balaz Szantos from the Faculty of Political Science at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University told Vietnam News Agency ahead of the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits to be hosted by Brunei on October 26 – 28.
Common vision, cooperation, and companionship are key to the revival of ASEAN member economies, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on October 25.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
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.
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh attends the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2021, held via videoconference on October 25 (Photo: VNA) 
The Vietnamese delegation at the virtual ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2021 (Photo: VNA) 
