Media Release
21 May 2026
The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), with the support of the Australian Mission to ASEAN, delivered the inaugural workshop in Jakarta on “Geoeconomic Strategy in Uncertain Times”, bringing together over 50 officials and experts from across ASEAN Member States and Australia.
“We recognise the significant impact that current global developments are having on the region, including pressures on fuel prices, supply chains, and broader economic stability. Australia is a steadfast supporter of ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN-led regional architecture, and its role in responding to shared challenges,” said Australian Ambassador to ASEAN, Tiffany McDonald. “ASEAN and Australia share a vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region. Our efforts are underpinned by support for rules-based trade, with the WTO at its core, and by our high-quality economic architecture, including the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA)”, she said.
The workshop, which focused on capacity-building and sharing insights, featured, among others, speakers from ERIA, Adelaide University, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Together, participants discussed how to navigate geoeconomic challenges and ASEAN’s strategies to thrive amid dynamic shifts in trade, geopolitics, and supply chains.
“ASEAN has long benefited from an open economic model. The task is to strengthen ASEAN’s overall economic resilience so that the region is better prepared,” said ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe. “A stronger ASEAN, working closely with committed dialogue partners, will be in a much better position to navigate the changing geoeconomic environment”.
The workshop provided a platform to share updates on key geoeconomic trends and offer practical recommendations to boost our region’s economic resilience. “We are pleased to work with ERIA and our ASEAN colleagues to advance our collective efforts on this important issue. We remain committed to working together with ASEAN to strengthen economic resilience, deepen regional cooperation, and support open and stable trade flows of essential goods, including energy”, said Ambassador McDonald.
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