Photo 1. MoU Signing Ceremony, signed by Mr. Takahashi Masakazu, President Director of JETRO Jakarta (left) and Beni Suryadi, Acting Executive Director of ACE (right)

Vientiane, 30 September 2024 – The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, 27 September 2024, aimed at enhancing collaboration on energy transitions across ASEAN. This MoU marks a significant milestone in advancing the region’s energy security and sustainability efforts, reflecting the growing momentum at the 24^th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-24).

The signing ceremony, as part of the AEBF-24, reaffirms ACE and JETRO’s shared commitment to foster energy cooperation that is crucial for ASEAN’s transition towards a sustainable and low-carbon energy future. The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework for joint initiatives aimed at promoting clean energy technologies, facilitating business collaboration between ASEAN and Japanese industries to accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC).

The MoU was signed by Beni Suryadi, Acting Executive Director of ACE, and Mr. Takahashi Masakazu, President Director of JETRO Jakarta. Through this cooperation, both parties will engage in knowledge exchange and capacity building, including seminars and expert workshops, thereby strengthening ties between ASEAN and Japan in the energy sector.

This partnership represents a key step toward achieving net-zero emissions in the region, focusing on promoting the use of biomass, electric vehicles, and financial mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

Beni Suryadi, Acting Executive Director of ACE, highlighted the importance of the agreement in his statement, “This partnership with JETRO is a major step forward in our efforts to advance energy security, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability in the ASEAN region. By 2040, ASEAN’s energy demand is projected to grow by over 60%, making it critical to adopt innovative solutions and sustainable practices. Through this collaboration, we are not only promoting technological and business innovations but also driving the adoption of clean energy, contributing to our goal of a 23% renewable energy share in the total primary energy supply. Together, we are fostering energy connectivity and resilience for all our member states.”

Mr. Takahashi Masakazu, President Director of JETRO Jakarta, echoed his excitement for the upcoming cooperation, “We are excited to strengthen our partnership with ACE at such a pivotal time for ASEAN’s energy future. Japan has long been committed to supporting clean energy transitions, and this MoU reflects our shared vision for advancing sustainable energy solutions in the region. By leveraging Japan’s expertise in technologies like biomass, electric vehicles, and smart grids, we aim to contribute meaningfully to ASEAN’s net-zero emissions targets. Together with ACE, we will create opportunities for business collaboration and innovation that will drive long-term energy security and sustainability across ASEAN.”

The cooperation between ACE and JETRO continues to play a pivotal role in supporting the ASEAN region’s transition towards clean and sustainable energy, aligning with ASEAN’s broader objectives under the APAEC framework. As the region looks to future energy challenges, this MoU exemplifies the importance of international partnerships in advancing energy security, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability in the region.

***

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.

For further information, please contact:

• Aurelia Syafina, Communications team at the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE): [email protected]