ASEAN Integration Report 2023: Report Launch & Public Forum
ASEAN Integration Report 2023 monitors progress with regard to the implementation of the AEC Blueprint 2025, evaluating the issues and pillars that are relevant and important to the ASEAN Youths in a post-pandemic setting; namely Labour Mobility & Connectivity, TVET, MSME and the Digital Economy. The report focuses specifically on the latest developments and progress for each said pillar, while new challenges within these issues are explored deeper, taking into account the perspectives of the ASEAN Youths in particular.
One of the most critical challenges that the AEC must confront concerning the younger generation is their heightened susceptibility to unemployment, a condition exacerbated by the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, the youth in ASEAN faced existing difficulties in the labour market. However, their precarious situation has worsened due to the compounding effects of job losses, disruptions in educational and training paths, and substantial barriers to labour market mobility—the so-called “triple shock.” This vulnerability is further underscored by the notable rise in the proportion of youth categorised as not in employment, education, or training (NEET) across most parts of the ASEAN region between 2019 and 2020, representing a significant pool of untapped potential.
Additionally, a significant hurdle faced by young individuals in ASEAN involves the substantial deficit in digital skills and the inadequacy of digital infrastructure, acting as limiting factors in their ability to navigate the post-pandemic landscape. According to the ASEAN youth survey by the World Economic Forum, 39% of ASEAN youth recognize the pivotal role of technology, yet a substantial 54% do not feel adequately proficient in its use. The lack of accessible and affordable high-quality internet further undermines the “digital readiness” of ASEAN youth. This challenge is particularly noteworthy in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), characterized by rapidly accelerating change and diminishing durability of many skills. As reliance on digital tools grows, urgent investments in the digital capabilities of the ASEAN youth become imperative for securing the future economic well-being of the ASEAN community.
Welcoming Remarks:
Dr Tricia Yeoh
Chief Executive
IDEAS Malaysia
Welcoming Address:
Kewalin Sa-ngapet
Regional Programme Officer
Regional Office Southeast and East Asia
Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF)
Moderator :
Dr Juita Mohamad
Director of Research
IDEAS Malaysia
Panellists:
Prof Niaz Asadullah
Professor of Economics
Monash University Malaysia
Dr Jun-E Tan
Senior Research Associate
Khazanah Research Institute
Nadhir Ashafiq
Co-Founder & Executive Director
TheLorry
Mohd Shahriza Sulaiman
Deputy Director
Policy Monitoring & Inclusive Development Division
SME Corp
Furthermore, ASEAN youths constitute a pivotal demographic with substantial economic promise. To foster a community that centers around the youth, it is imperative to proactively encourage entrepreneurship and invest in the development of human capital, especially for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) led by young individuals. Acknowledging this imperative, the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 has incorporated provisions within its framework to address and support these needs.
Hence, the objective of the report launch is to provide the audience with a comprehensive overview of the report, spotlighting key findings on specific topics: Labour Mobility & Connectivity, TVET Redefining Education, MSME Development in ASEAN, and the Digital Economy. Through this public forum, we aim to delve into existing regional initiatives within ASEAN while shedding light on the challenges confronted by the youth in these domains. The discussion will serve as a platform to explore and analyse the efforts undertaken in the region and to address the issues that young individuals encounter in the mentioned areas. Exploration of remedies to overcome these challenges will also be undertaken.
