Jakarta, 9 November 2026: ERIA, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) convened a private-sector roundtable to support the proposed ASEAN Green Economy Framework Agreement (GEFA). Held in a hybrid format at ERIA’s office, the roundtable brought together business councils, industry associations, companies, and the ASEAN Secretariat to discuss private-sector priorities for the green transition and provide feedback on a draft survey that will inform a joint study.

The roundtable marked the launch of a multi-year initiative covering 2026–2028, designed to support the GEFA process through private-sector case studies, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building. Proposed at the 26th ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting in October 2025, GEFA is also the subject of a feasibility study being conducted by the ASEAN Secretariat, which this initiative is intended to complement.

Dr Aladdin D. Rillo, ERIA’s Managing Director for Policy Design and Operations, delivered the welcome remarks. He noted that the green transition extends beyond decarbonisation to encompass energy security and economic competitiveness. For GEFA to succeed, he emphasised, its commitments must reflect market needs, making early private-sector engagement essential.

Mr Angga Antagia, Senior Director for ASEAN and Strategic Initiatives at USABC, explained the rationale for business community engagement. He highlighted the challenges companies face in complying with differing sustainability regulations across ASEAN Member States, as well as the need to unlock green investment and strengthen supply chain resilience. He also outlined the initiative’s objectives, timeline, and six priority sectors: information and communication technology, manufacturing, food and agriculture, energy, transport, and environmental services.

Dr Dionisius Narjoko, Senior Economist at ERIA, presented the proposed survey methodology together with ERIA Research Associates Mr Haekal Akbar Kartasasmita and Mr Ardhana Tahriza Syarif. The survey will gather business perspectives on:

• awareness of green requirements imposed by governments, trading partners, and buyers, as well as the costs associated with compliance;
• readiness to adapt and the support needed to meet these requirements;
• challenges arising from green requirements, their severity, and whether they originate in domestic, ASEAN, or external markets; and
• the GEFA elements businesses consider most valuable and their expected effects on costs, trade, investment, and environmental performance.

The survey will also identify capacity-building needs and invite companies to share best practices through case studies. As Dr Narjoko noted, while the scope of GEFA is still being defined, the survey provides businesses with an opportunity to help shape its content.

During the discussion, moderated by Mr Haekal Suhartono, Senior Officer at ASEAN-BAC, participants shared their experiences and suggestions for refining the survey.

In his closing remarks, Mr Antagia thanked participants for their contributions and encouraged them to continue providing candid feedback and sharing practical business experiences.

The survey will be finalised and disseminated through the networks of USABC, ASEAN-BAC, and their partners. Its findings will inform subsequent in-depth interviews, case studies, and a validation workshop. The resulting recommendations will contribute to the GEFA process and complement the ASEAN Secretariat’s feasibility study.