Jakarta, 12 September 2024:ERIA hosted a briefing for Ambassadors of its Member States and Dialogue Partners, presenting its past achievements and ongoing activities.

ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe opened the meeting by highlighting ERIA's initiatives in promoting decarbonisation through the Asia Zero Emission Center (the Center) and advancing digital innovation via the E-DISC platform. He also mentioned ERIA's role in supporting startups across ASEAN and announced the upcoming launch of the ERIA School of Government, aimed at developing future policymakers and leaders in the region.

H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, echoed these sentiments, emphasising the importance of policy dialogue and ERIA's role in addressing regional challenges. He praised ERIA's high-quality research and evidence-based policy recommendations, which have been instrumental in guiding government decisions on economic integration and community building in ASEAN and East Asia.

The meeting featured three key presentations by ERIA experts, outlining the organisation's continued support for the region's growth, sustainability, and resilience:

1. Dr Aladdin Rillo, Managing Director for Policy Design and Operations, provided an overview of ERIA's recent activities, including its support for Lao PDR as ASEAN Chair in 2024. This included organising the 50th ASEAN Activity Symposium, the ASEAN Blue Economy Forum, and preparing for the upcoming ASEAN Business and Investment Summit. Dr Rillo also stressed ERIA's involvement in shaping ASEAN's post-2025 agenda, which includes conducting a public survey on the future direction of ASEAN, finalising the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) post-2025 publication, and contributing to strategic planning for ASEAN connectivity.
2. Prof. Nobuhiro Aizawa, Dean and Managing Director of the ERIA School of Government, provided an overview of the school's mission to serve as a global platform for learning from Southeast Asia's unique governance experiences. He outlined four core programmes of the school: the ERIA Fellowship, Executive Training, the Leadership Forum/Dialogue, and the Southeast Asian Institutional Memory Project.
3. The final presentation, delivered by the newly appointed Head of the Asia Zero Emission Center, focused on the Center's establishment as a key initiative to support energy transitions across partner countries. The Center is developing strategic research programs to assist in crafting decarbonisation roadmaps, sector-specific actions, and market enablers.

Dr Nuki Agya Utama, Head of the Asia Zero Emission Center, stressed that stakeholder engagement is crucial for fostering regional cooperation and advancing policy dialogue within the Center's partner countries. He also emphasised the importance of collaboration with international institutions to enhance the Center's activities and ensure a consistent approach towards achieving zero emissions.

The presentations were followed by a discussion and a question-and-answer session, during which Ambassadors of ERIA Member States and Dialogue Partners expressed interest in ERIA's future research trajectory and strategic plans.

H.E. Bovonethat Douangchak, Permanent Representative of Lao PDR to ASEAN, concluded the meeting by expressing gratitude for ERIA's active engagement in global and regional forums, particularly its support for the ASEAN Connectivity Symposium and the High-Level Forum on ASEAN Supply Chain Connectivity.