1. Overview

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and other organizations held the ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit and the Generation Z Business Leaders’ Summit in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, from Wednesday, December 13 to Friday, December 15, 2023.
The purpose of the summits was to bring together future business leaders in Japan and ASEAN to build and strengthen mutual understanding and trust, share economic, business, and social challenges, and discuss and propose ways to cooperate to solve them.
The Joint Statements, the outcomes of both summits, were delivered to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, co-chairs of the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, on Saturday, December 16.

• Source:website of Prime Minister’s Office of Japan
• Source:website of Prime Minister’s Office of Japan

2. About the ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit

The ASEAN-Japan Young Business Leaders’ Summit brought together young business leaders from ASEAN and Japan to build and strengthen mutual understanding and trust, share economic and business challenges and social issues, and discuss and propose ways to cooperate for solutions. Discussions were also held between Mr. NIINAMI Takeshi, Chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai) and Chief Executive Officer of Suntory Holdings Limited., Mr. MORITA Takayuki, President and CEO of NEC Corporation, and other leading executives of Japan.
The open sessions shared economic and business challenges and social issues through lectures and panel discussions, presenting possible areas of cooperation. In addition, business leaders from ASEAN countries and Japanese companies conducted a great deal of business matching.
These discussions led to a Joint Statement being developed.

3. About the ASEAN-Japan Generation Z Business Leaders’ Summit

The ASEAN-Japan Generation Z Business Leaders’ Summit brought together business leaders in their twenties, including young entrepreneurs, from ASEAN and Japan to build and strengthen mutual understanding and trust, share economic and business challenges and social issues, and discuss and propose ways to cooperate for solutions.
In the open session, the participants discussed and presented to Japanese companies and local high school students the transformation of society by startups and the potential for developing a sustainable society.
These discussions led to a Joint Statement being developed.

Division in Charge

Asia and Pacific Division, Trade Policy Bureau