OPENING REMARKS BY MINISTRY OF INVESTMENT, TRADE AND INDUSTRY (MITI) FOR ASEAN JOINT SOM-SEOM MEETING

OPENING REMARKS BY MINISTRY OF INVESTMENT, TRADE AND INDUSTRY (MITI)

FOR ASEAN JOINT SOM-SEOM MEETING

Thank you, Excellency for giving me the floor

Distinguished colleagues,

I am pleased to join the SOM Chair in welcoming all of you to Kuala Lumpur for this Joint Meeting of the ASEAN SOM and SEOM. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency Dato' Sri Amran Mohamed Zin, the SOM Chair, and his team for their efforts in organising this important meeting.

This meeting takes place at a critical time when the global trade landscape faces some of its greatest challenges in decades. From the ongoing geopolitical tensions to persistent supply chain disruptions - these crises continue to test the resilience of our economies. Yet, ASEAN has consistently demonstrated unity, pragmatism, and a clear sense of purpose: to safeguard regional stability and ensure that the interests of our people and businesses remain central to our cooperation.

Today's meeting provides an opportunity for us to strengthen coordination between ASEAN's Political-Security and Economic pillars as well as fostering a deeper understanding of how ASEAN can collectively respond to rising uncertainties and the rapid transformations reshaping the global landscape.

On that note, let us engage openly and constructively. I look forward to the presentation by the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force (AGTF), which hopefully will offer insights on how ASEAN can enhance both economic security and resilience.

Thank you

Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI)

23 October 2025