ASEAN members to promote EV ecosystem development

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi (second right) at a press conference in Jakarta on April 5. (Photo: Antara)

Jakarta (VNA) - Several agreements will be sealed during the 42nd Associationof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in May this year, including the oneon the development of electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, according to IndonesianForeign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi.

At thehigh-level task force on economic integration meeting, ASEAN countries havereached an agreement to establish a supportive ecosystem for EVs in the region,the minister said at a press conference in Jakarta on April 5, adding that itwill be finalised during the upcoming summit in May.

Indonesia is focusing on three priorities during its 4th term as ASEAN Chair.The theme of its chairmanship this year is “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”which comprises three pillars namely ASEAN Matters, Epicentrum of Growth, andthe implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).|

Under the Epicentrum of Growth pillar,Indonesia will seek to promote energy security to support the transition fromfossil-based energy to clean and renewable energy, including the developmentof EV ecosystem in the region.

In March, ASEAN CooperationDirector at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sidharto Suryodiputro saidthat the ecosystem’s establishment could begin with the setting of standards for EVs in ASEAN.

According to Retno, as one of the largest economies inthe world, ASEAN should be able to set its own standards, noting that EV-producing countries such as China, theRepublic of Korea, and the US have their own sets of standards.

The official said Indonesia will hostthe ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) to promote AOIP. This important event willbe held in Jakarta on September 5-7 on the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit,she added.

Retnoalso announced that under the chair of Indonesia, ASEAN member countries have committedto using local currencies in cross-border trade transactions in an effort toenhance financial stability in the region./.

VNA