The private sector is a key stakeholder in ASEAN’s economic integration and has been an integral part of ASEAN strategies since the AEC Blueprint 2025, which emphasised the importance of structured Public-Private sector engagement (PPE) in shaping an inclusive, competitive, and resilient ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). As a major driver of trade, investment, and employment, businesses play a critical role in ensuring that ASEAN’s economic initiatives remain practical, future-ready, and responsive to market needs. Effective PPE allows industry to better understand ASEAN’s economic priorities, while providing valuable feedback that strengthens trade and investment facilitation and informs the design of impactful regional strategies.

ASEAN engages the business community through mechanisms such as sector-specific public-private consultative platforms, consultation at the Ministerial-level, as well as through mechanisms such as ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) and the Joint Business Councils. Through these channels, the private sector contributes to key priorities, including supply chain resilience, digital economy integration, sustainable and green growth, MSME development, and standards harmonisation, among others. As ASEAN embarks on the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan 2026-2030, while advancing long-term goals under the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, meaningful private sector participation remains crucial to building a competitive, innovative, and inclusive regional economy.