1. The Twentieth ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) – EU Trade Commissioner Consultation was held on 19 September 2024. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Malaithong KOMMASITH, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, and Ms. Maria Martin-Prat, Deputy-Director General, Directorate-General for Trade, European Commission, representing H.E. Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President for an Economy that Works for People and EU Trade Commissioner. The Meeting welcomed The participation of H.E. Filipus Nino Pereira, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as an observer.
2. Based on ASEAN’s preliminary statistics, two-way merchandise trade between ASEAN and the EU stood at USD 279.7 billion in 2023 whilst foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow from the EU to ASEAN was recorded at USD 24.8 billion in the same year. These figures placed the EU as ASEAN’s third largest trading partner and also second largest source of foreign direct investment last year.

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