/ DISG A Japan-ASEAN Economic Cooperation Platform Launched During the COVID-19 Pandemic Masuo Kuremura, Former Executive Secretary to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Appointed Chairman
DISG A Japan-ASEAN Economic Cooperation Platform Launched During the COVID-19 Pandemic Masuo Kuremura, Former Executive Secretary to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Appointed Chairman
In September 2025, Masuo Kuremura, formerly Executive Secretary to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, was appointed Chairman of the “Dialogue for Innovative and Sustainable Growth (DISG),” a platform dedicated to advancing practical economic cooperation between ASEAN and Japan.
In the same month, the Government of Japan introduced a new policy framework for cooperation with ASEAN, clearly defining a “Co-Creation” approach built on four pillars:
1. Supply Chain Resilience,
2. Digital Investment,
3. Promoting Innovation, and
4. AZEC(Asia Zero Emission Community) / Transition.
With the participation of 13 economic organizations across ASEAN, DISG will play a central role in accelerating the development and execution of concrete public-private partnership projects aligned with these four pillars.
*What is DISG?
DISG is a platform for dialogue, established following the Japan-ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting in 2020, aimed at advancing Japan-ASEAN economic cooperation from “concept” to “execution” under a shared co-creation vision.
In response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN and Japan recognized the need for deeper collaboration, leading to the launch of DISG.
Focusing on priority areas such as digital transformation, green initiatives, and industrial development, DISG showcases the latest Japan-ASEAN cooperation projects, while convening experts from the private, academic, and public sectors to generate actionable new partnership opportunities.
DISG also collaborates closely with 13 economic organizations, including the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), channeling real-world business challenges and project proposals into policy recommendations submitted to the Japan-ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM-METI).
This integrated public-private PDCA cycle linking policy and business in a continuous loop and enabling rapid, high-impact execution is a defining feature of DISG.
*Background: Japan’s “Co-Creation” Approach with ASEAN
In the 1970s and 1980s, Japan primarily viewed ASEAN as a manufacturing base, supporting industrial development through production.
Today, ASEAN has evolved into a dynamic growth market, where addressing social challenges such as ESG and the SDGs generates globally shared value.
The era of one-way support has passed. We are now entering a new phase in which Japan’s technological strengths and ASEAN’s growth potential and market scale are combined to co-create value.
Against this backdrop, the Government of Japan has repositioned its relationship with ASEAN as one of “Co-Creation.”
*Four Key Directions for Future Cooperation
1. Strengthening Supply Chains (Establishing resilient and self-reliant manufacturing bases)
Amid ongoing U.S.-China economic tensions and tariff negotiations, traditional approaches, such as rerouting low-cost exports through ASEAN, are becoming less effective.
For ASEAN economies, upgrading domestic industries is now a critical priority. From an economic security perspective, building self-reliant supply chains has become an urgent imperative.
Strengthening manufacturing capabilities, from upstream processes such as rare earths and rare metals to final-stage production, is essential. However, achieving this independently remains difficult.
Along with like-minded partners, Japan will support ASEAN in building truly autonomous supply chains through collaboration and shared resources.
Large-scale investments by hyper-scalers (major data center operators) are expanding across ASEAN. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that smaller, locally-optimized large language models (LLMs) may better meet regional demand and societal needs.
Reliance on computing resources concentrated in a small number of major powers presents risks from an economic security standpoint.
Japan’s strength lies in its comprehensive ecosystem, from AI application developers to companies capable of building LLMs, as well as foundational semiconductor technologies. This positions ASEAN countries to partner with Japan in developing independent computing capabilities as a credible alternative.
DISG was designed to bring private-sector dynamism directly into the policymaking process.
A flagship initiative is the “Fast Track Pitch,” an open innovation platform where leading Japanese corporations, startups, and ASEAN companies collaborate to develop solutions to region-specific social challenges.
This approach is already delivering tangible results, including Japanese companies addressing expansion challenges in ASEAN through partnerships with local startups.
In FY2025, events were held in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
A rapid, European-style green transition cannot be applied to Asia without adaptation.
In ASEAN, where economic growth continues, maintaining a stable energy supply to support daily life and economic activity remains essential. Balancing carbon neutrality with energy security is therefore a central challenge.
A pragmatic approach is required. One that combines Japan’s strengths in advanced technologies such as hydrogen and ammonia with gas-fired power generation and energy efficiency solutions to reduce overall energy demand.
Japan will contribute tailored energy transition solutions that reflect ASEAN’s specific circumstances.
--Comment from DISG Chairman Masuo--
Masuo Kuremura Chairman, DISG (Japan-ASEAN Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee), METI/Executive Director, JETRO Singapore
Born in 1976. Graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo.
Joined METI in 2002. Held key roles including Executive Secretary to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Director of the Industrial Finance Division, and Director of the Aerospace, Defense and Space Industries Division.
Currently serves as Executive Director of JETRO Singapore. Since July 2025, he has taken on his current role, overseeing ASEAN and the broader APAC region from Singapore and leading new Japan-ASEAN public-private economic cooperation initiatives.
“While ‘country-first’ policies are gaining momentum globally, Japan has long developed alongside the international community through a rules-based free economic system and frameworks such as CPTPP and RCEP.
For ASEAN to sustain its growth, it is essential to uphold these frameworks for free trade and investment, and Japan will continue to actively support and promote them.
Japan’s strength lies in its reliability-delivering on its commitments-and in providing high-quality solutions that create lasting value for partner countries. Rather than focusing on short-term costs, partnering with Japan offers significant long-term benefits in addressing social challenges and enhancing productivity.
Addressing local challenges through Japan-ASEAN cooperation ultimately contributes to solving global challenges. It is not only large corporations, but also startups with new technologies and innovations, that will shape the future.
By integrating the startup ecosystems of Japan and ASEAN, we can build a new model of capitalism-one that balances economic growth with the resolution of social challenges, rather than relying solely on large-scale financial incentives.
I hope that young people will bring their ideas and technologies to this effort and help create a new model that can lead the world.”
To date, DISG has primarily operated online. Going forward, it will incorporate in-person engagement to further accelerate the development and implementation of concrete public-private projects.
From dialogue to action, from vision to execution- DISG will take the Japan-ASEAN partnership to the next level.
