Annual Report 2023

Contents 06Message from the President10Event Highlights60Office of the President64Policy Relations70Research and Research-related Activities71Deepening Economic Integration76Narrowing Development Gaps79Sustainable Development82Energy89Healthcare Unit92Environment Unit94Agriculture Unit97ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable EconomyCentre (E-DISC)100Policy Design Department104Outreach Dissemination105Communications108Publications109Planning and Coordination111Capacity Building113The Strategy and Partnership Programme (SPP) Annexes 120Annex A – Governing Board Members122Annex B – Academic Advisory Council123Annex C – Research Institutes Network125Annex D – Energy Research Institutes Network127Annex E – ERIA Officials, Researchers, and Associates135Annex F – Summit Statements151Annex G-1 - List of Outreach Activities of ERIAResearchers (publications)158Annex G2 – List of Outreach Activities of ERIA Researchers(international workshops/conferences/lectures)176Annex H – Selected Media Exposure181Annex I – Publications189Annex J – E-DISC Events FY2023 MemberCountries Australia - Brunei Darussalam - Cambodia - ChinaIndia - Indonesia - Japan - Lao PDRMalaysia - Myanmar - New Zealand - PhilippinesRepublic of Korea - Singapore - Thailand - Viet Nam Messagefromthe President In my inaugural year as President, I have developed a deepappreciation for the collective efforts of my colleagues, whichhave solidified ERIA’s position as a premier policy thinktank in ASEAN and East Asia. Throughout this year, we havesuccessfully delivered impactful solutions to address bothimmediate and long-term challenges facing our region. ASEAN and East Asia have navigated through past challenges,but none as formidable as the current global crisis. Whilecountries are recovering from the pandemic, geopoliticalinstability, food security, energy security, supply chain risks,and climate change loom as serious threats. In response to these complex challenges, ERIA continues toevolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of the region.Our researchers have provided in-depth analyses and objectiveassessments to support policymakers in responding to thesechallenges. We believe that this region must strategicallyadapt to critical global trends, such as the evolving risks withinsupply chains, the pursuit of carbon neutrality, the integrationof circular economy principles, and digitalisation. Firstly, I extend a warm welcome to the new Chair of the ERIAGoverning Board, H.E. Ramon M. Lopez, Former Secretary ofthe Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, who replacedH.E. Professor Cielito F Habito, Professor of Economicsat the Ateneo de Manila University, and a new GoverningBoard member, H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General ofASEAN, who replaced H.E. Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, FormerSecretary-General of ASEAN. Their appointment marks thebeginning of a new chapter for ERIA, building upon the solidfoundations laid by our former members. The year 2023 wasparticularly busy for ERIA,as our member countriesplayed significant roles inhosting global multilateralforums, including theASEAN Chairmanship, theG20 Presidency, and theG7 Presidency. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformationin ASEAN, presenting both opportunities and challenges.Through our newly established centre, ERIA Digital Innovationand Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC), we aim to nurturea digital environment and data governance in the region thatis safe, transparent, reliable, and trustworthy. Our researchconfirms ASEAN’s potential to become a major player inthe global digital economy while ensuring that digitalisationsupports sustainable and inclusive development goals. We have also continued our work on supply chain resilienceand trade facilitation, making significant progress insupporting supply chain resilience and improving the tradefacilitation environment within the ASEAN region. Ourresearch on environment, healthcare, and agriculture has beeninstrumental in high-level policy discussions, and our supportto ASEAN on blue economy, food security, trade facilitation, andenergy security is well-recognised in leaders’ statements. The year of 2023 was particularly busy for ERIA, as ourmember countries played significant roles in hosting globalmultilateral forums, including the ASEAN Chairmanship,the G20 Presidency, and the G7 Presidency. We activelyparticipated in ministerial meetings across these forums,providing actionable policy recommendations for continuedeconomic growth and sustainability. Through our efforts, weaim to bring the voices and realities of developing Asia to theglobal discourse. In the energy sector, we have updated studies on regionalcarbon trading systems, the ASEAN power grid, transitionfinance, and produced our flagship publication, theEnergyOutlook and Energy-Saving Potential in East Asia. Our analysisof the decarbonisation of the ASEAN energy system aims todevelop a carbon-neutral roadmap tailored to the specificattributes of each A