Mr Masuo Kuremura (centre, front) with other officials following the adoption of the Joint Declaration at the 18th DISG Task Force meeting in Thailand on July 8. –Photo Mediator Thailand

ASEAN-Japan taskforce adopts joint declaration on economic resilience

The 18th Dialogue for Innovative and Sustainable Growth (DISG) Task Force meeting, held in Bangkok on July 8, was a major step forward in regional economic cooperation with the adoption of the “DISG Task Force Joint Declaration”.
Led by the Chairman of the Dialogue for Innovative and Sustainable Growth (DISG), Mr Masuo Kuremura, the meeting brought together public and private sector leaders to address the shifting global economic landscape.
In his keynote address, Mr Kuremura outlined four strategic pillars: supply chain resilience, innovation co-creation, AI and digital investment, and energy transition. “We must translate these frameworks into more concrete projects and discussions,” Mr Kuremura said.
Professor Dr Pavida Pananond of the Thammasat Business School highlighted the urgent need to transition from “efficiency-first” to “security and resilience-first” supply chain models, noting that businesses must identify critical areas along the value chain to transcend mere cost-efficiency.
Supporting this view, a representative of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Mr Yuta Okuyama, emphasised the institute’s commitment to reinforcing regional economic security through supply chain analysis and regional oil stockpiling initiatives.
Representatives from regional chambers of commerce highlighted the practical challenges and opportunities within the partnership.
President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Perry Ferrer, stressed the complementary nature of the relationship, saying “Japan provides capital and technology while the Philippines contributes a dynamic workforce and critical minerals”.
Mr Voratat Tantimongkolsuk from Thailand’s Board of Trade called for enhanced connectivity, saying “Mutual trust among stakeholders is indispensable to realising a resilient and sustainable supply chain”.
The resulting Joint Declaration focuses on five priority areas: building resilient supply chains, strengthening economic security, advancing energy transition, promoting industrial innovation, and fostering next-generation human resource development.
Addressing the panel discussion, Ms Yumiko Hata, Director of the Asia and Pacific Division at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), reaffirmed Japan’s commitment: “We will promote measures towards energy security and supply chain resilience in close cooperation with the chambers of commerce of each country.”
 Established in 2020, the Dialogue for Innovative and Sustainable Growth serves as a vital platform for deep economic cooperation, bridging the gap between field-level challenges and policy-level solutions through its public-private partnership framework.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update July 20, 2026)