The ten member states of the ASEAN bloc and their dialogue and external partners discussed on 19 October ways to enhance supply chain efficiencies in ASEAN and develop regional trade routes.
Government officials from ASEAN member states, as well as officials from the bloc’s Dialogue Partners and other External Partners exchanged views on ASEAN’s plan to achieve a competitive and seamless bloc by 2025 by lowering supply-chain costs and improving the speed of supply chains across the region.
The virtual workshop “Development of ASEAN Database on Trade Routes and Framework for Enhancing Supply Chain Efficiency” also dwelled on the challenges supply chains in the area face and shared recommendations to improve logistics.
“Facing the far-reaching impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, enhancing supply chain connectivity is crucial to build back better,’’ Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi said in his opening remarks at the workshop.
“By identifying common priorities, designing strategies to improve efficiency, and addressing risks more effectively, we are in a better position to work together to achieve a more integrated and connected ASEAN,’’ Dato Lim concluded.
The workshop is a project under the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 to achieve a competitive and integrated ASEAN that will promote competitiveness, inclusiveness, and a greater sense of Community. The master plan focuses on five key strategic areas to achieve the vision: sustainable infrastructure including “smart urbanisation” models, digital innovation, seamless logistics, regulatory excellence, and people mobility. As part of digital innovation, the master plan promotes the adoption of digital technology by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through developing a work plan to enhance their participation in the digital economy.