HLTF-EI DISCUSSES END-TERM REVIEW OF AEC BLUEPRINT 2025 -- MITI SEC-GEN

By Mohd Khairi Idham Amran

KOTA TINGGI, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- The End-Term Review of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025 was among the matters discussed at the The 47th High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI).

Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Secretary-General Datuk Hairil Yahri Yaacob shared that the HLTF-EI reviewed the draft reports on both the End-Term Review and the Outcomes and Impact Study of the AEC Blueprint 2025. 

He highlighted that the meeting resulted in key agreements, including ensuring factual validity of the reports through rigorous review by the ASEAN Secretariat, and finalising the reports intersessionally by April 2025 and submitting them to the AEC Council for notation in May 2025.

“The End-Term Review of the AEC Blueprint 2025 is not just a reflection of our achievements but also a foundation for the next phase of ASEAN economic integration. It’s about learning, adapting, and innovating for the future,” he said.

He told Bernama this after hosting the welcoming dinner for the 47th Meeting of HLTF-EI in Desaru, here yesterday.

Updating the Compliance Monitoring of the AEC Blueprint 2025, Hairil Yahri said the HLTF-EI reviewed the progress of its implementation, urging sectoral bodies to complete their activities within the year. 

He said key actions from the meeting included recommending that the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and AEC Council task sectoral bodies and the ASEAN Secretariat with updating Results Matrices, including spillover measures extending into 2026. Additionally, the ASEAN Secretariat is to provide the latest status updates ahead of the 28th AEC Council Meeting in November 2025.

“The AEC Blueprint 2025 is our roadmap to a fully integrated economic community. Compliance monitoring ensures we stay on track, delivering measurable outcomes that benefit all ASEAN citizens,” he said.

Hairil Yahri said the 47th HLTF-EI Meeting is a testament to ASEAN’s collective commitment to economic resilience, sustainability, and inclusivity. 

“As Malaysia takes the helm of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, the outcomes of this meeting will shape the region’s economic trajectory, ensuring ASEAN remains a global economic powerhouse,” he added.

After the conclusion of the meeting today, the Preparatory Senior Economic Officials' Meeting (Prep-SEOM) for the 31st AEM Retreat will take place on February 26 and 27.

The ASEAN Economic Ministers are scheduled to attend a retreat, to be chaired by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, on February 28.

-- BERNAMA