WELCOME REMARKS : 23RD AEM-ASEAN BAC CONSULTATIONS
23 SEPTEMBER 2025 (TUESDAY)
1345 - 1515
BALLROOM, LEVEL 3
MITEC
WELCOME REMARKS BY AEM CHAIR
Remarks
Honourable Ministers,
Secretary-General of ASEAN
Tan Sri Nazir Razak, Chair of ASEAN-BAC 2025 and ASEAN-BAC Members,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First and foremost, allow me to extend a very warm welcome to ASEAN-BAC Chair, Tan Sri Nazir Razak, and ABAC members to the AEM–ASEAN-BAC Consultation. I would also like to record my sincere appreciation to the Chair of ASEAN-BAC 2025, for his leadership, and to all ASEAN-BAC members for your unwavering commitment and continued engagement with the ASEAN Economic Ministers.
As the ASEAN Chair 2025, I would like to recognise the stewardship of the private sector in strengthening ASEAN’s economic resilience. ASEAN-BAC has long been a trusted partner in ensuring that our integration efforts remain practical, competitive, and business-friendly.
In 2024, our region recorded USD 3.9 trillion in GDP, with a growth rate of 4.8%. ASEAN attracted USD 226 billion in FDI, representing nearly 15% of global flows. Additionally, our goods trade reached USD 3.84 trillion, growing 8.9%, while services trade amounted to USD 1.29 trillion, with a growth of 12%. These figures clearly demonstrate ASEAN’s role as a vital hub in global value chains and as a trusted destination for trade and investment.
These achievements are not solely the result of government efforts. They reflect the deep public–private cooperation that ASEAN-BAC has consistently championed through policy recommendations, flagship initiatives, and strong partnerships with our Dialogue Partners.
Under Malaysia’s Chairmanship theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” we aim to translate momentum into tangible deliverables that enable businesses to invest, grow, and create quality jobs. I look forward to today’s updates and discussion on the ASEAN-BAC Mechanism and Legacy Projects.
Together, we must drive sustainability, deepen services and digital integration, and strengthen capital market linkages. AMS looks forward to working closely with ASEAN-BAC to ensure our policies remain relevant, facilitative, and aligned with business realities, delivering real progress for the region.
With that, I now invite Tan Sri Nazir Razak, Chair of ASEAN-BAC 2025, to deliver his Introductory Statement.
--BERNAMA