KUALA LUMPUR – The European Union (EU), as one of the major economic blocs, should engage Asean more closely due to its vast market opportunities, said Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong.
He suggested that gaps in capacities and resources between the two blocs could effectively be narrowed through various forms of support such as targeted funding, technology transfer, as well as capacity-building programmes.
“Both regions should engage more closely in several high-value-added areas for the mutual benefit of both Asean and the EU,” he said during a fireside chat session at the 10th Asean-EU Business Summit in Belgium earlier this week.
Liew also stressed on the importance of both regions supporting each other in building a middle-class society in Asean, according to a statement issued by the International Trade and Industry Ministry today.
The fireside chat session was held with European Commission executive vice-president and trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and moderated by EU-Asean Business Council executive board member Noel Clehane.
The business summit, which gathered prominent political leaders, business leaders, and government officials from both the EU and Asean, was held on the sidelines of the 45th Asean-EU Commemorative Summit.
Liew was accompanied by senior ministry officials and representatives in Brussels. – Bernama, December 16, 2022
