ASEAN, UNCTAD, and Aus4ASEAN Jointly Organises Workshop on FDI for Policy Makers in Vientiane

Vientiane, 10 October 2024 – Members of ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Investment (CCI) attended “ASEAN FDI Policy Workshop Series 2024: Strengthening Regional Connectivity and the FDI Ecosystem through Industry Catalysts” in Vientiane, Lao PDR. This workshop aims to consult industry experts on the specific challenges and actions required to enhance regional connectivity to facilitate FDI and to translate policy recommendations of ASEAN Investment Report (AIR) 2024 into actionable programmes aimed at attracting, retaining and facilitating FDI in ASEAN. The Workshop was held immediately after the launch of ASEAN Investment Report 2024 on 9 October 2024 during the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2024.

The workshop featured regional investment practitioners such as Ms. Grace Octalian, Director Government Relations, PT Suryacipta Swadaya, Mr. Tee Chee Seng, Executive Director of Savannaket Development Zone Lao PDR, Ms. Wang Yujiao, General Office Manager of Saysettha Development Zone, Mr. Zulkefli bin Ismail, General Manager, Strategic Planning Department, Northern Corridor Implementation Authority, Malaysia, and Mr. Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Head of Energy Modelling and Policy Planning and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Department, ASEAN Center for Energy. The Workshop was facilitated by Mr. Richard Bolwijn, Head of Investment Research, United Nations on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The workshop discussed current trend of FDI and key success factors of attracting FDI in SEZ, approaches to achieve security, ensuring sustainability, and maintaining affordability of energy supply, and discussing AIR 2024 recommendations. Full AIR 2024 report can be downloaded here.

The ASEAN FDI Policy Workshop were organised by the ASEAN Secretariat, UNCTAD, Ministry of Planning and Investment Lao PDR, and was supported by Australia for ASEAN Futures (Aus4ASEAN Futures).