Jakarta, 6 November 2026: ERIA convened its 2nd East Asia Media Caucus under the theme ‘Promoting ASEAN Energy Security and Advancing Green Growth’, bringing researchers and journalists together to examine regional approaches to energy preparedness, industrial competitiveness, and green growth. Discussions highlighted how regional co-operation could reduce the cost of maintaining emergency oil reserves while helping businesses invest in cleaner and more digitally enabled production.

In his opening remarks, Dr Takayuki Yamanaka, Chief Operating Officer of ERIA, noted that recent disruptions to global energy supplies had underscored the importance of preparedness and regional co-operation. He also highlighted the potential of green growth and digital transformation to strengthen ASEAN’s competitiveness and regional integration.

A key discussion focused on ERIA’s research on regional oil stockpiling. ERIA’s modelling estimates that the annualised cost of holding additional oil reserves across ASEAN would be US$2.19 billion under a co-operative approach, compared with US$2.80 billion under a nationally led approach – approximately 22% lower for the same volume of additional reserves.

The estimated cost difference partly reflects assumptions about ownership and financing. Under the co-operative approach, stocks remain owned by producers or partners, while participating countries secure negotiated access. The estimates exclude additional costs associated with emergency delivery and replenishment. ERIA emphasised that these arrangements are research recommendations and do not constitute agreed ASEAN commitments.

Dr Han Phoumin, Senior Energy Economist at ERIA, highlighted the importance of ensuring that emergency reserves can be effectively accessed and delivered when needed.

‘Having the right to draw on emergency stocks is only the first step. Countries need clear release procedures, suitable fuel, and the transport capacity to get supplies where they are needed. Voluntary pilots would allow governments and operators to test those arrangements before a disruption, ’ he said.

The Media Caucus also examined how businesses could remain competitive as production becomes cleaner and more digital. Dr Intan Murnira Ramli, Senior Policy Fellow at ERIA, highlighted the importance of integrating green growth, digital transformation, and regional integration into a coherent economic agenda.

‘Put simply: ASEAN’s next competitive advantage will come from turning green growth, digital transformation, and regional integration into one economic agenda, ’ she said.

Survey findings presented at the event illustrated the challenges facing businesses in advancing decarbonisation. Amongst Japanese firms surveyed in ASEAN, 53.3% were implementing decarbonisation measures, but only 7.1% reported switching to lower-emission suppliers or encouraging their suppliers to reduce emissions. A separate survey of local ASEAN firms found that smaller businesses were less likely to take action, with financing and technical capacity remaining the principal barriers.

Digital adoption faces similar constraints. Amongst the Japanese firms surveyed, 70.8% cited shortages of digital talent, while 64.7% identified high implementation costs. These findings point to the need for targeted investment in skills and technology, alongside improved access to finance.

Participants also discussed how regional co-operation on standards and connectivity could help address these challenges, including the potential contribution of a future ASEAN Green Economy Framework Agreement (GEFA). Dr Ramli emphasised that effective implementation would be essential to translating these opportunities into investment, stronger value chains, and better jobs.

The event concluded with a media exchange on verifying information during disruptions, communicating research findings, and assessing the implications of regional proposals for domestic audiences. Journalists and editors discussed how reporting could follow these policies through implementation to examine their effects on businesses and consumers.