Beyond tariffs and trade: ASEAN Summit spotlights women’s stories and strengths

Everybody knows the ongoing 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in the capital gather heads of state and high-ranking officials to strategise on countering sweeping US tariffs and fostering multilateral cooperation.

But a deeper question pulses beneath the ceremonial surface: What does this mean for women, especially?

It should be noted that women make up slightly over half of ASEAN's population - at around 334 million of almost 700 million people, or 49.9 per cent. And for these women, the stakes go beyond geopolitics.

ASEAN women are employed across various sectors, formal or informal and across the Southeast Asian region. Rightly, their voices in the halls of government, boardrooms, educational institutions, communities and homes need to be heard.

The 46th ASEAN Summit, chaired by Malaysia, conjures up a wave of regional anticipation in looking for solutions and countering challenges, such as the bloc's reaction and strategies in facing US tariffs, multilateral cooperation and fostering cooperation via the tripartite inaugural summit with China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries.

Yet, on the sidelines of the Summit, a session featuring a trio of "girl bosses" was expected to be a serious discussion towards ways to break the glass ceiling.

Somehow, it evolved into a heart-warming exchange of stories and shared experiences in balancing household responsibilities and a professional career, which the writer can relate to.

The Global Power Hour: Women Pioneering Change Across Continents session, held at the ASEAN Women Economic Summit 2025 (AWES 2025) - featuring UOB Malaysia CEO Ng Wei Wei, Indonesia's Vice Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, and Cambodia's Minister of Commerce Chan Nimul, also hogged the limelight besides the ASEAN and related summits.

The session was moderated by Malaysia's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Though Tengku Zafrul was in the minority in terms of gender at AWES, he deftly guided the discussion, allowing the panellists' voices and stories to take centre stage. His moderation deserved praise for its sensitivity and respect, letting authenticity, rather than agendas, shape the tone.

Among the many issues discussed and experiences shared, Chan Nimul said, despite bringing 24 years of experience and having played a pivotal role in advancing Cambodia's trade agenda on the global stage, she is still expected to keep her household in order.

"I walk into the ministerhood knowing my battleground. I know what I'm expected of. I know what the public opinion of me will be. I knew the battlegrounds I would have to navigate.

"There are other new ministers like me, but they're men...from my perspective, they face three main battlefronts. I face four. First, managing my own institution or house. Second, working across ministries. Third, representing the country internationally, and fourth, being a woman in leadership.

"I'm a mother, a daughter, and a woman in a high office. I thought this would be a disadvantage, that I was starting from a weaker position, but I was wrong. What I saw as a weakness became my strength, my soft power. People underestimated me, but that only motivated me more. That's what helped elevate me," she said.

Her sharing immediately resonated with the audience, drawing a strong connection, especially among the women in the conference hall, including this writer, who also manages a full household, to nod in agreement.

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri also offered a powerful reflection on the multi-dimensional lives of women in leadership.

"Many women today are constantly balancing multiple roles. Some of us are wives, mothers, daughters, and at the same time, we may also be ministers, CEOs, or hold other high-level responsibilities," she said.

Her message resonated not just with the women in the room, but with anyone who has juggled overlapping identities.

"The ability to switch between these roles with grace is essential, and it requires flexibility on a daily basis," she said.

For Dyah Roro Esti, empathy is at the heart of that ability - not just as a leadership trait, but as a survival tool.

"Balancing cultural expectations while leading with empathy is something many of us navigate daily. Empathy allows us to step into someone else's shoes and understand what different circumstances mean for them. When we lead with empathy, we lead with the heart, and that, to me, is profoundly meaningful," she remarked.

Dyah Roro Esti also highlighted the importance of understanding when to "wear" different hats in different social settings and distinguish her roles with family, with friends, or in professional environments.

"We, as women, don't have to be in 'professional mode' all the time. We are allowed to take off certain hats and simply be present in the roles that matter most in a given moment.

"This act of knowing when and how to shift between roles is where empathy truly comes in. It allows us to show up authentically and meaningfully, without feeling burdened. In fact, embracing these different roles makes the journey more fulfilling," she added.

Perhaps ASEAN can change the narrative? While the now 10-member group focuses on trade, for the first time in Kuala Lumpur, there's this side event where a special conference on women was held.

Women's labour force participation in ASEAN averages at 48 per cent, in Malaysia this is around 56.2 per cent, while in ASEAN, only 27 per cent of senior management positions are held by women.

According to Tengku Zafrul, Malaysia is set to establish ASEAN's first Women's Economic Empowerment Centre in Kuala Lumpur, to ensure the bloc's potential and opportunities are accessible to all, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), youth and women.

With the country's ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', I find myself looking forward to more such platforms.

Perhaps this is the beginning of a more inclusive ASEAN - one that truly listens to its women.

-- BERNAMA