Jakarta (VNA) - The UK delegation to ASEAN held a seminar inJakarta, Indonesia on April 24 to discuss the ASEAN-UK economic integration programme.
Speaking at the event, UK Ambassador to ASEAN Sarah Tiffin said the UKhas contributed over 19 million GBP (23.62 million USD) to support long-term improvementin business environment in seven ASEAN member countries. The programme is part of aseries of initiatives aimed at promoting new dialogue partnership relationsbetween the two sides.
She said this year marks the strengthening of theimplementation of the UK's dialogue partnership, with a special focus on theestablishment of the 25 million GBP ASEAN-UK economic integration programme.
It will be carried out over the next four yearsin all 10 ASEAN member states and Timor Leste, and aimed at poverty reduction inthe region, particularly supporting economic empowerment for women and smallbusinesses.
Delegates at the event discussed variousissues, including the impact of the digital economy, trade barriers, access tofinancial resources, and empowering women to engage more in the economy./.
Vietnam and the United Kingdoms are speeding up negotiations on a new-generation free trade agreement (FTA) between the two sides, which is expected to be completed at the year’s end.
The ASEAN Secretariat, the United Kingdom (UK) and the Lead Implementing Body for Sustainable Infrastructure (LIB-SI) have co-organised the UK-ASEAN Sustainable Leadership in Infrastructure Conference online and in-person in Singapore.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Kingdom convened the inaugural ASEAN-UK Joint Cooperation Committee (AUKJCC) Meeting via videoconference on June 24, marking the start of a formal partnership to strengthen their long-standing ties.
Bank Indonesia (BI) is collaborating with the Bank of England (BOE) in holding the ASEAN Central Banks Workshop on Enhancing Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), Integrating Cross-Border Payment Systems, and Exploring Central-Bank Digital Currencies from March 8-10 in Jakarta.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
ASEAN foreign ministers on April 19 issued a statement calling on all parties to immediately cease violence and exercise maximum restraint in the border areas of Myanmar.
Illustrative image (Photo: aseanbriefing) 
