In September 2025, Masuo Kuremura, formerly
\nExecutive Secretary to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, was
\nappointed Chairman of the \u201cDialogue for Innovative and Sustainable Growth
\n(DISG),\u201d a platform dedicated to advancing practical economic cooperation
\nbetween ASEAN and Japan.<\/p>\n
In the same month, the Government of Japan introduced
\na new policy framework for cooperation with ASEAN, clearly defining a
\n\u201cCo-Creation\u201d approach built on four pillars:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\nSupply Chain Resilience,<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\nDigital Investment,<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\nPromoting Innovation, and<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\nAZEC(Asia Zero Emission
\nCommunity) \/ Transition.<\/p>\n
With the participation of 13 economic
\norganizations across ASEAN, DISG will play a central role in accelerating the
\ndevelopment and execution of concrete public-private partnership projects aligned
\nwith these four pillars.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
*What is DISG?<\/b><\/p>\n
DISG is a platform for dialogue,
\nestablished following the Japan-ASEAN Economic Ministers\u2019 Meeting in 2020, aimed
\nat advancing Japan-ASEAN economic cooperation from \u201cconcept\u201d to \u201cexecution\u201d
\nunder a shared co-creation vision.<\/p>\n
In response to the challenges of the
\nCOVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN and Japan recognized the need for deeper
\ncollaboration, leading to the launch of DISG.<\/p>\n
Focusing on priority areas such as digital
\ntransformation, green initiatives, and industrial development, DISG showcases
\nthe latest Japan-ASEAN cooperation projects, while convening experts from the
\nprivate, academic, and public sectors to generate actionable new partnership
\nopportunities.<\/p>\n
DISG also collaborates closely with 13
\neconomic organizations, including the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
\nand the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), channeling real-world
\nbusiness challenges and project proposals into policy recommendations submitted
\nto the Japan-ASEAN Economic Ministers\u2019 Meeting (AEM-METI).<\/p>\n
This integrated public-private PDCA cycle linking
\npolicy and business in a continuous loop and enabling rapid, high-impact
\nexecution is a defining feature of DISG.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
*Background: Japan\u2019s \u201cCo-Creation\u201d Approach with ASEAN<\/b><\/p>\n
In the 1970s and 1980s, Japan primarily viewed
\nASEAN as a manufacturing base, supporting industrial development through production.<\/p>\n
Today, ASEAN has evolved into a dynamic
\ngrowth market, where addressing social challenges such as ESG and the SDGs generates
\nglobally shared value.<\/p>\n
The era of one-way support has passed. We
\nare now entering a new phase in which Japan\u2019s technological strengths and
\nASEAN\u2019s growth potential and market scale are combined to co-create value.<\/p>\n
Against this backdrop, the Government of
\nJapan has repositioned its relationship with ASEAN as one of \u201cCo-Creation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
*Four Key Directions for Future Cooperation<\/b><\/p>\n
1. Strengthening Supply Chains<\/b>
\n(Establishing resilient and self-reliant
\nmanufacturing bases)<\/i><\/p>\n
Amid ongoing U.S.-China economic tensions
\nand tariff negotiations, traditional approaches, such as rerouting low-cost
\nexports through ASEAN, are becoming less effective.<\/p>\n
For ASEAN economies, upgrading domestic
\nindustries is now a critical priority. From an economic security perspective,
\nbuilding self-reliant supply chains has become an urgent imperative.<\/p>\n
Strengthening manufacturing capabilities, from
\nupstream processes such as rare earths and rare metals to final-stage
\nproduction, is essential. However, achieving this independently remains
\ndifficult.<\/p>\n
Along with like-minded partners, Japan will
\nsupport ASEAN in building truly autonomous supply chains through collaboration
\nand shared resources.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/a>2. Digital Investment<\/b><\/p>\n Large-scale investments by hyper-scalers Reliance on computing resources Japan\u2019s strength lies in its comprehensive ecosystem, \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/a>3. Promoting Innovation<\/b><\/p>\n DISG was designed to bring private-sector A flagship initiative is the \u201cFast Track This approach is already delivering In FY2025, events were held in Singapore, \u00a0<\/p>\n
\n(major data center operators) are expanding across ASEAN. At the same time,
\nthere is a growing recognition that smaller, locally-optimized large language
\nmodels (LLMs) may better meet regional demand and societal needs.<\/p>\n
\nconcentrated in a small number of major powers presents risks from an economic
\nsecurity standpoint.<\/p>\n
\nfrom AI application developers to companies capable of building LLMs, as well
\nas foundational semiconductor technologies. This positions ASEAN countries to
\npartner with Japan in developing independent computing capabilities as a credible
\nalternative.<\/p>\n
\ndynamism directly into the policymaking process.<\/p>\n
\nPitch,\u201d an open innovation platform where leading Japanese corporations,
\nstartups, and ASEAN companies collaborate to develop solutions to
\nregion-specific social challenges.<\/p>\n
\ntangible results, including Japanese companies addressing expansion challenges
\nin ASEAN through partnerships with local startups.<\/p>\n
\nVietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.<\/p>\n