First of all, JETRO is honored to take part in this newly established “Dialogue for Innovative and Sustainable Growth (DISG)”.

COVID-19 has had a deep negative economic impact in Asia by triggering global value chain disruption and restrictions on the movement of persons; but at the same time, it has brought new business opportunities, including rapid transformation or adoption of digital technologies.

To realize more resilient value chains in the region, as well as to incorporate these emerging business trends into new business opportunities, JETRO has been implementing programs for strengthening supply chains in ASEAN. Additionally, JETRO organizes webinars, online pitches and business meetings to accelerate digitalization through our Digital Transformation (DX) Platform for ASEAN-Japan collaborative innovation.

In these connections, I strongly believe DISG will work as a common platform to effectively integrate all such efforts for creating new value and opportunities in ASEAN. We at JETRO, upholding the key concept of “Achieving the SDGs in ASEAN through Business,” would like to contribute to the Dialogue by providing our experience and maximizing synergies with our programs.

Asia is changing much faster than we expected. I hope that many Japanese companies will proactively participate in the Dialogue to keep themselves updated and seize the business opportunities now emerging.