The number of people with two-dose vaccinations against COVID-19 as of May 23 stood at 166.9 million out of the target of over 208 million (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – UN Deputy Secretary GeneralAmina Mohammed has praised Indonesia for successfully controlling the COVID-19pandemic.
Speaking at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) heldin Bali, Indonesia, Amina expressedthe UN appreciation to Indonesia for its steps to handle andrespond to the pandemic.
She described the country’s effort to vaccinate 217 millioncitizens against the pandemic as a great achievement.
Amina affirmed that Indonesia is animportant partner of the UN in disaster risk mitigation efforts.
Meanwhile, Indonesian PresidentJoko Widodo said his government implemented dynamic policies to handle COVID-19and strike a balance between public health and economic interests.
According to the president,Indonesia has administered 411 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far.
Indonesia's daily COVID-19 cases have dropped drastically from 64,000 perday during the peak to 345 per day as of May 24. Meanwhile, the SoutheastAsian country’s economic growth could be maintained at 5.01 percent andinflation rate at 3.5 percent.
Indonesian Deputy Health MinisterDante Saksono Harbuwono on May 24 said that it will take more thansix months to monitor the situation and confirm that the COVID-19 pandemic isover in Indonesia.
According to the Indonesian Health Ministry, thenumber of people with two-dose vaccinations against COVID-19 as of May 23 stoodat 166.9 million out of the target of over 208 million./.
An Indonesian minister has said that the country’s success to be placed in the top three in the 31st SEA Games met the President's expectations and demonstrated the effectiveness of the National Sports Grand Design (DBON).
The development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is necessary and important to promote Indonesia’s economic growth, said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.
Indonesian top drugmaker Kalbe Farma has announced the founding of a joint venture in the Philippines as the company plans to expand its operation across Southeast Asia.
Indonesian Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi has discussed with Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mary Ng to further strengthen bilateral cooperation through trade, with emphasis on four major areas.
Indonesia appreciated Japan's desire to discuss the 'Asia Japan Investing for Future Initiative', Indonesian Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi said during his recent meeting with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hagiuda Koichi.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
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.
The number of people with two-dose vaccinations against COVID-19 as of May 23 stood at 166.9 million out of the target of over 208 million (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
