Asean Seeks Deeper Ties With Italy In Green, Digital And Creative Sectors
By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar
JAKARTA, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- ASEAN secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn has called for deeper cooperation with Italy, saying closer ties in the green transition, digital innovation, and the creative economy can drive sustainable growth and long-term prosperity for both regions.
He said the region’s pursuit of net-zero emissions under the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality, along with the Power Grid initiative to enhance energy connectivity, offers new opportunities for collaboration.
“Italy's global leadership in renewable energy, sustainable design and the circular economy makes it an ideal partner in this transition,” he said at the 9th High-Level Dialogue on ASEAN-Italy Economic Relations in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, on Thursday.
In his pre-recorded keynote address released by the ASEAN Secretariat, Kao noted that the region is accelerating digital transformation through initiatives such as regional digital payments, the ASEAN Single Window, and the Smart Cities Network to boost connectivity and innovation.
He said collaboration between ASEAN and Italian businesses in space-based monitoring, smart-city planning and digital innovation ecosystems could strengthen governance, inclusivity and sustainability.
He also identified the creative economy as an emerging frontier, noting that from 2026 the region will place greater emphasis on creativity and innovation as engines of inclusive growth.
“Italy's global reputation in design, fashion, and art and craftsmanship provides valuable lessons as we develop our own creative industries, brands, and cultural assets,” Kao said.
He said closer cooperation between Italian firms and ASEAN entrepreneurs, creative hubs and small businesses could help build distinctive regional brands that reflect Southeast Asia’s diversity and translate it into global value.
On trade, he said two-way merchandise flows between ASEAN and Italy had grown to US$28.1 billion in 2024 from US$20.4 billion in 2017, while Italy’s foreign direct investment in the region rose to US$205.7 million from US$123.3 million over the same period.
-- BERNAMA
