Phnom Penh: Neak Oknha Kith Meng, President of Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and ASEAN BAC Chair joined the ASEAN BAC dialogue with ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) via virtual platform on March 16, 2022. The dialogue was chaired by H.E Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Cambodia and AEM Chairwith the participation of AEM of 10 ASEAN countries, senior officials, ASEAN BAC members and representatives from relevant organizations.

Neak Oknha Kith Meng, ASEAN BAC Chair expressed the support to Cambodia Chairmanship Theme: ASEAN A.C.T: Addressing Challenges Together and fully endorsed the Priority Economic Deliverables. ASEAN BAC are mobilizing the Joint Business Councils and Sector Champions to provide technical and advocacy support in building the agenda and in realizing the PEDs for this year. In the capacity as ASEAN BAC Chair, he urged AEM to take concrete actions on trade facilitation, connectivity, digital transformation, green and sustainable economic recovery, the push for full RCEP participation of 10 ASEAN members and other equally critical reforms which are crucial for the realization of: 2025 AEC Strategic Blueprint, the 5-6% annual trajectory growth of ASEAN, ASEAN being the fourth largest economy in the world by 2030, and the reduction of economic development gap among ASEAN Member States. He emphasized that private and public sector will work closely, act and address challenges together to realize ASEAN aspiration.

In addition, ASEAN BAC members also provided interventions, progress reports and recommendations by the private sectors such as: ABA and ABIS to be held on November 2022 in Phnom Penh, updates on ASEAN Digital Gateway, Travel Wallet, Digital Trade Connect, H.I.R.E.D, Smart Growth Connect, Plea to Act to Revive the ASEAN Tourism Industry, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Empowerment, Green and sustainable Economy Working Group, Recommendation on NTB and NTM and other issues related to Trade Facilitation, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Business Sentiment from Myanmar.

AEM and ASEAN Secretary General commended the achievements by ASEAN BAC and took note on recommendations by ASEAN BAC for consideration and further actions. They also urged relevant stakeholders to work closely with ASEAN BAC.

The ASEAN BAC - AEM Consultation presentation file can be accessed HERE