Greetings from DISG Secretariat
Dear Readers,
Happy New Year, everyone. I am Masuo Kuremura, Chairman of DISG. This year's zodiac sign is the Fire Horse “丙午”. With fire and the horse in the celestial alignment, this year will be one of passion and action, driving us forward. Under this alignment, I look forward to working with all of you at DISG to vigorously advance ASEAN-Japan cooperation this year as well.
Specifically, at our first meeting last December, I outlined four key cooperation directions: first, strengthening supply chains; second, innovation; third, AI and digital; and fourth, energy transition. We plan to continue discussions within DISG this year based on these four themes.
Regarding the second theme, innovation, we will launch the Fast Track Pitch initiative. Starting in Singapore on January 14th, followed by Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, startups will pitch their solutions to challenges posed by major Japanese and ASEAN corporations. We encourage everyone to participate.
On January 30th and 31st, the first ASEANBAC meeting of FY2026 will be held in Manila. I will be attending on behalf of JETRO and look forward to meeting you all in person.
I pray that this year will be one of passionate progress, worthy of the Fire Horse, as we continue our excellent discussions with you all.
Best regards,
Masuo Kuremura
DISG Task Force Chair
Executive Director, JETRO Singapore
Special Advisor to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
ASEAN-Japan Summits 2025: Co-Creating the Future through Next-Generation Leadership
In December 2025, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and JETRO hosted the ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit and the Future Generation Business Leaders’ Summit in Tokyo. This landmark initiative aimed to forge deeper ties between Japan and ASEAN, focusing on the "co-creation" of solutions for social issues and the development of next-generation businesses through strategic regional partnerships.
● Bridging Visionary Leaders
The summits convened a diverse group of high-impact individuals, including unicorn founders, executives from prominent conglomerates, and entrepreneurs in their 20s. Beyond peer-to-peer discussions, these leaders engaged in high-level exchanges with Japanese corporate executives and members of the Diet. These interactions were designed to build long-term trust and facilitate direct business matching between Japanese companies and ASEAN’s emerging business elite.
● Key Outcomes and Policy Proposals
The summits culminated in the delivery of formal policy proposals to Prime Minister Takaichi and Minister Akazawa. These proposals focused on collaborative innovation in AI, semiconductors, and deep technology, while emphasizing the need for enhanced supply chain resilience. Minister Akazawa highlighted that co-creation in digital and decarbonization fields will be the primary engine for driving regional innovation and economic stability for the next generation.
- METI Holds ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit 2025 and Future Generation Business Leaders’ Summit 2025; Policy Proposals Delivered to Prime Minister Takaichi and Minister Akazawa (English) (LINK)
ASEAN-JAPAN Fast Track Pitch 2025 Expanding Across the Region
Launched in 2023 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan cooperation, the "ASEAN-Japan Co-Creation Fast Track Initiative" is a cooperation scheme for new innovations designed to promote open innovation and co-creation between Japanese and ASEAN companies. The initiative has already attracted over 2,650 participants, including startups, SMEs, and large corporations, accelerating various collaborative projects across the region. As the third round of this initiative, the events began in Singapore on January 14, followed by three strategic pitch events in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
● Vietnam-Japan Fast Track Pitch 2025
The Vietnam edition took place in Hanoi (Hybrid) on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 27, 2026. The six Challenge Owners listed below have set specific challenges for collaboration. Detailed information is available on JETRO’s special website. (LINK)
● Malaysia-Japan Fast Track Pitch 2025
Scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, February 5, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur (Hybrid), this event features the six Challenge Owners listed below. Further details will be announced on the JETRO website as finalized. (LINK)
● Indonesia: Indonesia-Japan Fast Track Pitch 2025
The initiative will continue in Jakarta (Hybrid) on the afternoon of Thursday, February 12, 2026. Five key Indonesian companies will present challenges aimed at driving digital transformation and supply chain resilience in ASEAN’s largest economy. (LINK)
● Our Strategic Goal: A Co-Creation Ecosystem
Through these events, METI and JETRO aim to build a robust cross-border ecosystem where collaborative innovation drives regional growth. By bridging agile innovators with established industry leaders, this initiative ensures that the ASEAN-Japan partnership remains at the forefront of sustainable economic integration and regional stability.
- Inno Vietnam-Japan Fast Track Pitch 2025 to Be Held as the Second Event of ASEAN-JAPAN Fast Track Pitch 2025 (English) (LINK)
- Malaysia-Japan Fast Track Pitch 2025 to Be Held as the Third Event of ASEAN-JAPAN Fast Track Pitch 2025 (English) (LINK)
- Indonesia-Japan Fast Track Pitch 2025 to Be Held as the Fourth Event of ASEAN-JAPAN Fast Track Pitch 2025 (English) (LINK)
Editorial Note
