Indo-Pacific nations urged to deepen collaboration for sustainable growth

The ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) 2025 convened in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, 2025 gathering over 450 participants from governments, businesses, and international organizations to advance regional cooperation and sustainable economic growth.

High-level attendees included Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

In his address, Mr Hartarto reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to positioning ASEAN at the center of Indo-Pacific cooperation, emphasizing that lasting growth depends on collaboration, inclusivity, and mutual trust.

He noted that the region—home to 60 percent of the world’s population and generating over half of global GDP—serves as the epicenter of the world economy, contributing nearly two-thirds of global growth and almost half of global trade.

Mr Hartarto highlighted Indonesia’s priorities in industrial down streaming, clean energy transition, and digitalization as aligned with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which promotes mutual respect, openness, and regional stability.

He stressed the importance of public-private partnerships to drive innovation, investment, and resilient growth.

Australian Prime Minister Albanese echoed the call for practical cooperation, stressing that regional progress must be demonstrated through tangible outcomes such as joint infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing projects.

Themed “Advancing Inclusivity and Sustainability in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific Region,” the forum featured panels on regional economic integration and cross-border sustainable development.

Key initiatives included the ASEAN Common Carbon Framework, the ASEAN Power Grid, and cross-border payment mechanisms—projects aimed at deepening connectivity and economic integration.

Closing the event, Indonesia’s Minister of Investment, Rosan Roeslani, said that synergy between governments and the private sector remains the cornerstone of a resilient, green, and sustainable Indo-Pacific.

(Monica Aguilar is a lawyer and former journalist, specialising in commercial law, corporate governance, and risk management, with an MBA from Indonesia. The views expressed are her own and do not reflect those of her employer.)