Bangkok, 2 May 2025: ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe participated in the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Forum 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, at the invitation of OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann and Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Sangiampongsa.

President Watanabe joined a high-level panel discussion on High-Quality Investment, alongside Thailand’s Trade Representative Werapong Prapha, ASEAN–BAC Executive Director Rifki Weno, and Whitney Baird, President and CEO of the US Council for International Business. The session brought together perspectives from public and private sectors on how ASEAN can foster sustainable investment and enhance economic resilience.

In his remarks, President Watanabe addressed the shifting geopolitical and economic landscape, emphasising that ASEAN must strengthen its resilience and deepen regional co-operation to remain a competitive and attractive destination for global investment. He highlighted the need to build diversified, future-ready supply chains and to establish a regulatory environment conducive to high-quality foreign direct investment.

He identified the region’s twin transformation priorities – green and digital transitions – as critical levers for long-term growth. On the green transition, he highlighted ASEAN’s progress in advancing low-carbon development, including efforts to enhance regional power grid connectivity, support clean technologies, and develop carbon market frameworks. He also stressed the need for regulatory alignment, financing innovation, and strong public–private partnerships to mobilise the estimated US$2 trillion in clean energy investment required by 2030.

On the digital transformation, President Watanabe pointed to the rise of homegrown innovation, especially in artificial intelligence. He called for sustained efforts to promote digital entrepreneurship, strengthen data governance, and ensure that digital development remains inclusive and aligned with regional values.

During a brief meeting with Secretary-General Cormann, President Watanabe welcomed the growing collaboration between ERIA and the OECD, particularly in advancing shared objectives related to sustainable investment and innovation-led development.