The 43rd ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB) meeting hosted by Indonesia on June 7-8, 2023, has discussed food security as one of the concerns of Southeast Asian countries since the world is facing the threat of a global food crisis due to climate change, El Nino phenomenon, and geopolitical conflicts.
(AFSRB) meeting in Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday (June 7, 2023). (ANTARA/HO-Bapanas/FR)”>
National Food Agency (Bapanas) Head Arief Prasetyo Adi during the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB) meeting in Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday (June 7, 2023). (ANTARA/HO-Bapanas/FR)
The 43rd AFSRB meeting, held in Bogor District, West Java Province, was attended by representatives of all ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, the AFSRB Secretariat, the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Secretariat, and the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) Secretariat.
“We have to take concrete action to address the potential global food crisis, including various other risks threatening the food system,” the Head of Indonesia’s National Food Agency (NFA) Arief Prasetyo Adi said. Therefore, it is important to ensure the stability, availability, accessibility, and wise utilization of the food stocks in the region.
One of the attempts to address food and nutrition security dynamics is by strengthening the commitment of ASEAN member countries through the establishment of an ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration regarding food security. It is expected to be endorsed by the leaders of ASEAN member countries at the 43rd ASEAN Summit scheduled to be held in Jakarta in September 2023.
The ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Time of Crises is one of the Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) of Indonesia’s chairmanship in ASEAN 2023 as well as the topics in the 43rd AFSRB meeting.
The document will encourage the establishment of a cooperation mechanism among various domestic institutions of ASEAN member countries in the agriculture, trade, finance, and transportation sectors to strengthen food security in the region. The cooperation mechanism also aims to bolster regional supply chains and sustainable farming.
Apart from the declaration, the meeting also brought attention to the recent food issues in each member country, so that problems can be solved through regional cooperation. Representatives of each Southeast Asian country would report on food commodity availability, and the forum would determine which and how much food resource should be reserved.
As quoted from the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry’s website, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict had disrupted the global supply chain, resulting in an increase in food prices by up to 30 percent. The condition also affects ASEAN member countries. The average inflation rate in the countries reached 15 percent in 2023 so far.
The NFA, as a governmental institution responsible for maintaining food security in Indonesia, developed a national food reserve and distribution system to anticipate the global food crisis potential. The agency develops collaboration with related ministries and institutions, State-owned Enterprises, universities, non-governmental organizations, agricultural and farmer associations, and the private sector as well as international stakeholders.
Deepening trade and investment ties with large, fast-growing markets such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will support Canada’s long-term growth, create good jobs, and ensure a strong, resilient economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, met virtually with ASEAN Economic Ministers at the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) – Canada Consultations, where they announced that Canada and ASEAN have agreed to proceed with negotiations toward a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking an historic milestone in the Canada-ASEAN relationship.
The 10th AEM-Canada Consultations meeting was co-chaired by Minister Ng and His Excellency Dato Dr. Amin Liew Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Brunei Darussalam, and included a briefing by senior representatives from the Canada-ASEAN Business Council.
At the virtual meeting, the ministers agreed to a joint statement highlighting the potential for an FTA to help diversify supply chains, increase trade and investment, and reinforce Canada and ASEAN’s shared commitment to open markets and rules-based trade.
Canadians expressed a high level of support for an FTA with ASEAN during public consultations carried out by the Government of Canada. A report of key themes identified through the consultations can be found on Global Affairs Canada’s website.
Minister Ng will table a Notice of Intent to enter into FTA negotiations with ASEAN as well as Canada’s negotiating objectives, in the House of Commons, consistent with the amended Policy on Tabling of Treaties in Parliament. Both items will be tabled in advance of a first round of negotiations in accordance with the timelines identified in the amended policy.
“The commercial relationship between Canada and ASEAN has significant potential for growth. Proceeding with negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement with ASEAN provides an important opportunity to secure enhanced market access for Canadian business to supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region, create new opportunities for our businesses in this rapidly growing market, and drive long-term job creation and sustainable, inclusive growth for generations to come. This is a significant milestone in the renewal and deepening of Canada’s economic partnerships and commercial engagement across the Indo-Pacific.”
– Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development
With a combined GDP of $5 trillion and a population of approximately 650 million, ASEAN represents the world’s fifth-largest economy and third-most populous consumer market.
As a bloc, the 10 ASEAN member states comprise Canada’s sixth-largest trading partner.
Bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and ASEAN reached $26.7 billion in 2020, while services trade amounted to $5.8 billion in 2020, with further opportunity for growth.
ASEAN is a fast-growing and dynamic market with increasingly important opportunities in sectors such as agriculture and agri-food, natural resources, fish and seafood, clean technology, infrastructure, and financial services.
According to the ASEAN-Canada FTA Joint Feasibility Study, an FTA would result in a US$7.8 billion increase in bilateral trade between ASEAN member states and Canada.
The 45th anniversary of Canada-ASEAN relations will be celebrated in 2022.
Alice Hansen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development
613-612-0482
Alice.Hansen@international.gc.ca
