Cebu, 6 May 2026: ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe met with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, H.E. Gan Kim Yong, on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Cebu. The meeting focused on regional energy security and ASEAN’s long-term economic resilience.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan welcomed ERIA’s recent presentation at the Special ASEAN Economic Coordinating Council (AECC) Meeting held on 30 April 2026, particularly ERIA’s proposed work on a regional joint oil stockpiling study. He expressed Singapore’s interest in working closely with ERIA as ASEAN explores practical options to strengthen preparedness against future energy supply disruptions.

The discussion also highlighted the growing importance of energy security as a strategic regional priority. Both sides exchanged views on the need to enhance ASEAN’s resilience to external shocks, recognising that energy security extends beyond the energy sector and has significant implications for industrial competitiveness, supply chain stability, and broader economic security.

President Watanabe reaffirmed ERIA’s commitment to supporting ASEAN’s efforts to advance practical regional solutions, including through continued engagement with ASEAN Member States under Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027.