Vientiane, 9 October 2024: ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe had the honour of attending the Opening Ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane, Lao PDR, as the Guest of the Chair. ERIA, alongside key international organisations such as the World Bank, AIIB, and WEF, reinforced its commitment to ASEAN's regional development priorities.

Throughout 2024, ERIA has been actively involved in major ASEAN events. At the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) meeting in September, President Watanabe introduced key initiatives, including the ASEAN–Japan Next-Generation Automotive Industry and the ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC). These efforts highlight ERIA’s role in promoting regional innovation and supporting startup ecosystems through initiatives like the ASEAN Startup Policy Roundtable.

At the East Asia Summit – Economic Ministers Meeting (EAS-EMM), President Watanabe presented a policy paper titled Navigating the Path to a Net-Zero Economy: Decarbonisation and Sustainability Initiatives in East Asia Summit (EAS) Countries. He outlined strategic actions aimed at transitioning the region towards a low-carbon economy, emphasising the importance of public–private-people partnerships to achieve sustainable growth without compromising inclusivity or profitability.

Additionally, at the 27th ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council Meeting, President Watanabe presented ERIA’s Policy Brief on the Global Minimum Tax (GMT). He stressed that tax incentives are no longer the main driver of foreign direct investment and urged ASEAN Member States to focus on factors such as macroeconomic stability, talent development, and access to infrastructure to remain competitive. ASEAN ministers praised ERIA’s insights, recognising the opportunity for the region to rethink its investment strategies in response to global tax reforms.

ERIA also participated in the 42nd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting, where President Watanabe introduced ERIA’s Energy Policy Research on decarbonisation, highlighting the Asia Zero Emission Centre's initiatives. These efforts underscore ERIA’s ongoing commitment to ASEAN’s goals of economic integration, energy sustainability, and digital innovation.