Jakarta, 3 December 2024: ERIA and Canadas Mission to ASEAN co-hosted the roundtable forum Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable ASEANCanada Free Trade Agreement, with the special presence of ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe, the Honourable Mary Ng, Canadas Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, and Indonesias Vice Minister of Trade, H.E. Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri.

The roundtable, held at ERIAs annex office, brought together government and private sector representatives from Canada and Indonesia, as well as delegates from ERIA and the ASEAN Secretariat. The discussion focused on the integration of inclusivity and sustainable development in trade agreements, particularly the opportunities within the ASEANCanada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA). ACAFTA is currently under negotiation between Canada and ASEAN, with Indonesia serving as the ASEAN co-chair.

In his opening remarks, President Tetsuya Watanabe commended Canadas leadership in advancing inclusivity and sustainability in trade agreements, citing its role in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the recently concluded CanadaIndonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). He also expressed gratitude to the Canadian Mission to ASEAN and the ERIA staff for their efforts in organising the event.

Vice Minister H.E. Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, in her address, emphasised the strong trade relationship between ASEAN and Canada, citing the IndonesiaCanada CEPA as evidence of this partnership.

The Honourable Mary Ng, in her keynote speech, highlighted the importance of integrating inclusivity and sustainability into trade agreements. She reaffirmed Canadas commitment to embedding these values in ACAFTA and praised Malaysias upcoming ASEAN Chairmanship for prioritising inclusivity and sustainability.

Dr Alladin Rillo, ERIA Managing Director for Policy Design and Operations, opened the discussion by highlighting that trade has the potential to drive sustainable and inclusive development. He stressed the importance of embedding these themes in trade policies and fostering collective action amongst stakeholders.

The moderated discussion, led by Anna Robeniol, ERIA Senior Policy Fellow, included input from key representatives from Canada, ASEAN, and Indonesia, spanning both the public and private sectors. Topics included the vital role of inclusivity and sustainability in trade and trade agreements, the potential of ACAFTA, and practical steps for stakeholders to shape an equitable trade framework.

The dialogue concluded with the recognition that by fostering collaboration and advancing shared values, ASEAN and Canada are well-positioned to build a sustainable and inclusive future, benefiting both their communities and economies.