Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is focusing on exploring opportunities for ASEAN cooperation in developing an electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, Chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Arsjad Rasjid said here on Sunday.
After the opening of the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) in Jakarta, Rasjid said that the EV ecosystem's development aligns with ASEAN's priorities in sustainable energy development, such as energy transition, energy efficiency, and carbon credit.
"Therefore, Indonesia promotes the EV ecosystem. Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia said this is the time to do it because so far we are competing. Now it is not time for competition, but we must collaborate to create complementary values," he said.
The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) is holding the ABIS on September 3–4, 2023. The summit is part of the ASEAN-BAC event series.
This year, Indonesia's ASEAN-BAC focuses on accelerating regional transformation through innovation and inclusivity in five priorities: digital transformation, sustainable development, health security, trade facilitation, and food security.
In addition to sustainable energy development, Indonesia, under its ASEAN chairmanship this year, encourages collaboration in digital transformation for all sectors, Rasjid said.
Digital transformation is important because it will facilitate micro, small, and medium enterprises' development not only in Indonesia but also throughout ASEAN, he added.
By upholding the principle of ASEAN centrality, Rasjid said that Indonesia also pushes for collaboration in health and food security.
He said Indonesia has issued the Health Omnibus Law to support health security in the region.
According to him, other countries in ASEAN also welcomed collaboration in the health sector to support the region's health industry.
Meanwhile, ASEAN collaboration in food security is expected to complement each ASEAN country's shortcomings.
"So far, we have never focused on trade within us, but more about trade outside (ASEAN). After the pandemic, we realize that it is time for us to trade among ourselves, fill the gap between us, and strengthen food security," he said.
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