Trade Minister Attends ASEAN Summit to Discuss Regional Economic Challenges

Indonesia wants to ensure that ASEAN remains the engine of inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Budi Santoso departed for Cebu, Philippines, on Wednesday (6/5), to attend a series of meetings at the 48th ASEAN Summit to discuss various global development issues impacting the region. In the meetings held on 7-8 May 2026, Budi emphasised the importance of the summit as a momentum to promote closer, more inclusive, and sustainable economic integration in Southeast Asia. “Indonesia wants to ensure that ASEAN remains the engine of inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and is capable of responding to various global challenges together,” Budi stated through a press release in Jakarta on Wednesday. He added that the 48th ASEAN Summit will also discuss efforts to maintain energy resilience and strengthen coordination in responding to geopolitical dynamics. ASEAN will also push for strengthened economic cooperation to enhance regional resilience and bolster joint responses to various potential crises. In this context, Indonesia supports initiatives for energy and food resilience, as well as strengthening regional supply chains for energy, food, and essential goods. In addition, Indonesia emphasises the importance of support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the optimisation of internal and external ASEAN cooperation mechanisms. “We hope that the 48th ASEAN Summit will be an important momentum to strengthen synergy among member countries in maintaining regional stability and promoting closer and more responsive cooperation towards global dynamics,” he added. Budi is scheduled to attend the Joint Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers and Economic Ministers (Joint ASEAN Foreign and Economic Ministers’ Meeting/AMM-AEM Meeting) as well as several other meetings. In addition to the joint meeting between ASEAN trade ministers and foreign ministers, Budi will accompany Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, at the “27th ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting”. Furthermore, the Trade Minister is also scheduled to attend the Indonesia-Philippines Business Forum initiated by the Indonesian Trade Attaché in Manila. The purpose of this business forum is to explore various business-to-business cooperation opportunities between entrepreneurs from both countries, which will also strengthen economic integration through intra-regional trade relations.