With only three years remaining until 2025, ASEAN finds itself at a critical juncture in its community building journey. As the world’s third largest population, fifth largest economy and the fourth largest trader, ASEAN has shown its collective resilience by recovering quickly from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we need to be mindful of the emerging risks facing the global economy, including trade tensions, digital divide, climate change, and the threat of future pandemics.

In the next few years, ASEAN will emerge as one of the top leading economic blocks in the world, thanks to the advancement and the deepening of our market integration as we strive for our long-term economic resiliency. Upgrading the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), eliminating non-tariff barriers, and improving investment facilitation are among the key priorities to improve our intra-ASEAN trade and investment.

Furthermore, we are actively enhancing our cooperation and connectivity with the global economy. The implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will serve as the anchor of our economic engagement with ASEAN’s key trading partners. Meanwhile, we are working tirelessly to modernize and enhance our ASEAN’s Plus One Free Trade Agreements to keep up with any possible unforeseen challenges. Beyond these, we will continue to forge new partnerships with other existing and potential external partners to expand economic cooperation across various sectors. These partnerships will help us address new challenges in the years to come, including those related to digital economy, sustainability, and health resilience.

I am convinced that all these initiatives will contribute positively to the implementation of the so-called my “Six P’s,” namely on:

• Peace,
• Prosperity,
• Planet,
• People,
• Partnerships, and
• Potentials.

To this end, ERIA plays a significant role by engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and by providing robust analyses and evidence-based policy recommendations. I am confident that ERIA’s work will continue to be instrumental in supporting the works of ASEAN in its regional integration efforts and in realizing our community building endeavors.

ASEAN and East Asia remain regions to watch – demonstrating remarkable resilience and consistently strong growth, with average mid- to high-single-digit rates. The regional economy is projected to exceed US$4 trillion by 2030, supported by a population of over 680 million with rising per capita income and purchasing power – making it one of the world’s most dynamic and vibrant markets.

However, we must work even harder to preserve and deepen our regional cooperation. Recent trends in deglobalisation and tariff measures imposed by some major trading partners risk undermining the gains we have achieved. These challenges compound the disruptions in global supply chains and volatility in commodity prices arising from ongoing geopolitical tensions.

In response, we must redouble our efforts towards greater regional cohesion and integration to shield our economies from external shocks and maintain growth momentum. At ERIA, this calls for a renewed focus on:

• Advancing economic and trade cooperation,
• Supporting the implementation and upgrading of RCEP,
• Accelerating efforts to reduce and eliminate non-tariff barriers (NTBs).

We should also explore ways to enhance cooperation in:

• Supply chain efficiency,
• Environmental sustainability and green energy,
• Healthcare innovation,
• Entrepreneurship and inclusive digital transformation – especially in the context of AI, robotics, and IoT, all of which must be paired with forward-looking workforce development strategies.

We also commend the establishment of the ERIA School of Government. Building leadership capacity and policy competency across the region is crucial to achieving a truly integrated and forward-looking ASEAN.

Importantly, our integration efforts must be inclusive and equitable – addressing the long-standing development gaps across our member countries and ensuring that growth and prosperity are shared by all.

Operationally, I encourage ERIA Member States and partners, including the ASEAN Secretariat, to maximise their engagement with ERIA: propose high-priority research topics, help disseminate research findings, and support programmatic initiatives. Research outputs must not only inform policies but also stimulate private sector interest in intra-ASEAN trade and joint investments. Currently, intra-ASEAN trade stands at just 22% and intra-regional investment at 9% – figures that must improve if we are to achieve deeper economic integration.

In this context of global uncertainty, regional unity and cooperation have never been more important. A great deal of work lies ahead, but I have full confidence in the credibility and competence of ERIA to serve as a beacon of thought leadership – providing sound economic research, policy advice, and programmatic support for a better, more integrated future for this region.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Governing Board members of ERIA, as well as to the dedicated ERIA management team, research fellows, and staff, for their tireless commitment to our shared mission of fostering prosperity and improving quality of life for the people of ASEAN and East Asia.

Ramon M. Lopez
Governing Board Chair