JAKARTA, 21 February 2023 – The First Meeting of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) for 2023 was held today at the ASEAN Secretariat. The agenda included a discussion on ASEAN Connectivity, particularly, the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025. Timor-Leste joined the Meeting for the first time as an Observer.

Ambassador M.I. Derry Aman, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to ASEAN and Chair of the ACCC for 2023, opened the Meeting by conveying his appreciation to Cambodia for the successful Chairmanship 2022, and affirmed Indonesia’s commitment to the ASEAN Community building efforts, especially on ASEAN Connectivity. He shared the Three Pillars of Indonesia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN 2023, i.e. ASEAN Matters, Epicentrum of Growth, and Mainstreaming the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

He also conveyed Indonesia’s priorities in the areas of food and energy security, regional health architecture, and financial stability, as well as the Flagship Events of ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum on Youth, Creative Economy, Infrastructure and Business and Investment Summit. He further underscored the importance of Connectivity as one of the priority areas under the AOIP, and also stated that implementing the Master Plan of ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) is part of the Epicentrum of Growth.

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, also delivered his remarks in the opening session. Dr Kao reaffirmed ASEAN Secretariat’s support for the work of the ACCC and underscored several key messages to strengthen ASEAN Connectivity cooperation: translating regional initiatives to the national level; deepening and broadening engagement with external partners; leveraging synergies between MPAC 2025, AOIP, and other connectivity initiatives led by external partners; and engaging the broader stakeholders, including the private sector, in a whole-of-Community approach.

The ACCC Meeting participants discussed Indonesia’s priorities on Connectivity as ACCC Chair for 2023, reviewed the implementation status of initiatives and projects under MPAC 2025, and exchanged views on how to strengthen ASEAN’s collaboration with its Dialogue Partners and other external partners in delivering the MPAC 2025 Initiatives, among others.

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