Photo 1. (left-right) MoU Signing Ceremony, Minister Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development of Canada; Wayne Farmer, President of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council; Beni Suryadi, Acting Executive Director of ACE; Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia

 Jakarta, 2 December 2024 – In a significant step toward strengthening bilateral ties and promoting sustainable energy solutions, the Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Energy Transition Roundtable which is part of the Team Canada Trade Mission to Jakarta.

The MoU, signed today in the presence of Minister Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development of Canada, Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, and industry leaders from ASEAN and Canada, marks a new chapter in the collaboration between Canada and the ASEAN region in the energy transition sector. It establishes a framework for enhanced cooperation in areas such as energy transition, clean energy technologies, and capacity building, as well as fostering deeper trade and investment partnerships between Canada and ASEAN member states.

“We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with the ASEAN Centre for Energy at such a pivotal time for the energy sector,” said Wayne Farmer, President of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council. “This collaboration will enable Canadian businesses to share innovative solutions to the ASEAN region’s energy needs, including transitioning to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources, and addressing growing energy demand across the region.”

Beni Suryadi, Acting Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Energy, emphasised the importance of international collaboration in achieving the region’s energy goals. “We are honored to be part of this important MOU with the Canada-ASEAN Business Council. We embark on this agreement with a common understanding that ASEAN is a growing region of opportunities for a sustainable growth. We believe that this MOU will advance public-private partnerships in the energy sector, especially through supporting the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC),” remarked Beni.

The MoU outlines specific areas for cooperation, including:

• Capacity Building for knowledge sharing and exchange of updates and best practices in energy transition, clean energy and technologies, regulatory framework, policies, safety standards, and workforce capacity building.
• Joint events to facilitate knowledge and commercial exchange
• Joint advocacy through the development and promotion of joint research and policy advocacy to inform ASEAN Government on the opportunities and best practices in renewable energy and energy transition.

Through the signing of the MoU, The Canada-ASEAN Business Council and ASEAN Centre for Energy are committed to advancing their shared vision of a sustainable, low-carbon future through collaboration, innovation, and mutual growth.

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About ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE)

Established on 1 January 1999, the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) is an intergovernmental organisation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) structure that represents the 10 ASEAN Member States’ (AMS) interests in the energy sector. ACE supports the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC), a blueprint for better collaboration towards upgrading energy. The Centre is guided by a Governing Council composed of Senior Officials on Energy from each AMS and a representative from the ASEAN Secretariat as an ex-officio member.

The three key roles of ACE:

• As a catalyst to unify and strengthen ASEAN energy cooperation and integration by implementing relevant capacity building programmes and projects to assist the AMS develop their energy sector.
• As the ASEAN energy data centre and knowledge hub to provide a knowledge repository for the AMS.
• As an ASEAN energy think tank to assist the AMS by identifying and surfacing innovative solutions for ASEAN’s energy challenges on policies, legal & regulatory frameworks and technologies.

Keeping the region’s improvement, sustainable and harmless to the ecosystem is a fundamental concern of the ASEAN energy sector. Hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, ACE’s office is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. For more information on ACE website: aseanenergy.org.

About the Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC)

Established in 2012, the CABC is a leading voice of the Canadian private sector in the Canada-ASEAN economic corridor. As Canada’s first and only ASEAN-accredited entity, the CABC is dedicated to driving deeper Canada-ASEAN economic ties and supports its network of about 90 distinguished members through policy advocacy, networking events, and research insights.