As the waves of global economy grow more turbulent, ASEAN’s voice must be louder - Tengku Zafrul

Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, joined Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a meeting with Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto.

The leaders met in Putrajaya to discuss strategies to strengthen regional economic cooperation — a conversation that has grown more urgent in the wake of newly announced reciprocal tariffs by the US.

“As the waves of the global economy grow more turbulent, ASEAN’s voice must be louder,” Tengku Zafrul said on his social media posting following the meeting. “Unity in ASEAN is no longer a choice — it is a necessity.”

The high-level dialogue focused on identifying collaborative pathways to fortify regional resilience. With global trade dynamics shifting and uncertainties intensifying, Zafrul emphasises the importance of acting as a united front — not just in diplomacy, but in tangible economic strategy.

“The prosperity of our nations depends on our ability to strengthen regional ties and drive collective growth,” Zafrul added.

The meeting comes at a time when ASEAN nations face the dual challenge of navigating protectionist rhetoric while ensuring sustainable growth. For Malaysia and Indonesia — two of ASEAN’s largest economies — this meeting signals a strong intent to lead with purpose.