Indonesian Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto (Photo: //www.urdupoint.com/)
Jakarta (VNA) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) welcomesthe United Kingdom (UK)’s proposal to become the grouping’s dialogue partner toexplore bilateral economic cooperation potential, said Indonesian Minister ofTrade Agus Suparmanto.
TheIndonesian minister was attending the "AEM Troika Open-ended Dialogue withUK Trade Ministers" that was held online as part of the 52nd ASEANEconomic Ministers Meeting (AEM-52) which is taking place from August 22-29.
Hesaid that during the event, participants discussed various global and regionaldevelopment issues related to COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, and UK tariffsimplification based on World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.
Heheld that ASEAN and the UK share high potential of cooperation in areas ofdigital economy, financial technology, especially among micro, small andmedium-sized enterprises, as well as in environment.
Statisticsfrom the ASEAN Secretariat shows that the UK is the 13th ASEAN trading partnerwith total trade hitting 35.7 billion USD in 2019. The UK is the sixth biggestinvestor of ASEAN with an investment of 7.7 billion USD./.
The United Kingdom and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has launched the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UK-ABC) to further promote trade and investment between the two sides.
The UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) will upload images of Da Nang city and success stories by foreign investors there on its event websites, Executive Director Ross Hunter has said.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Tran Ngoc An has affirmed that Vietnam, as Chair of ASEAN in 2020, supports stronger collaboration between ASEAN And the UK across trade and investment, as well as cooperation for peace, security and development.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
Indonesian Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto (Photo: //www.urdupoint.com/) 
