ERIA: Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia

26/10/2026

ERIA proudly hosted HITS 4WOMEN in Jakarta on 9–10 June 2026—the second edition of our Health Innovation Spark (HITS) series, powered by ERIA’s Health and Social Welfare Unit and the E-DISC team.

Across two days, nine innovative femtech start-ups from across Asia came together to showcase transformative solutions spanning maternal and newborn care, cancer screening diagnostics, reproductive health, menopause support, and menstrual wellness.

From dynamic pitch sessions and ecosystem visits to deep dialogues on closing the women’s health gap, discover how these innovators are shaping inclusive healthcare across ASEAN.

21/10/2026

20/10/2026

ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe met with Dr Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, to discuss ongoing support and explore further collaboration to strengthen food security and promote downstream development across the agri-food system.

These priorities align with Asta Cita, the national vision and priority agenda of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, which emphasises food self-sufficiency and the development of domestic value-added industries.

During the meeting, President Watanabe formally presented the minister with the study report Exploring the ASEAN Local Resource-Based Food Reserve (LRBFR) Mechanism: Strengthening Regional Food Security and Crisis Resilience. Conducted at the request of Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture, the study supports the implementation of leaders’ commitments under the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises. It examines experiences and good practices in food reserve systems, including approaches to responding to shocks and crises.

President Watanabe also expressed his appreciation for the minister’s continued support for ERIA’s activities. The meeting reaffirmed ERIA’s commitment to supporting Indonesia’s national development priorities through evidence-based research and policy recommendations, while contributing to stronger regional food security and co-operation.

15/10/2026

ERIA welcomed approximately 30 participants from Japan’s Green Innovator Academy (GIA) during the programme’s fieldwork in Indonesia. The delegation comprised representatives from leading Japanese energy companies, manufacturers, financial institutions, and universities.

Participants reflected on their fieldwork experiences and discussed energy and environmental issues across ASEAN with ERIA experts. The session was attended by Dr Nuki Agya Utama, Director for Energy Policy and Head of the Asia Zero Emission Center; Mr Keitaro Tsuji, Director for Environmental Policy and Director of the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris; and colleagues from ERIA’s Energy Unit.

GIA is a practical learning programme designed to strengthen professionals’ capacity to advance green transformation. Through dialogue with global leaders, field visits, and group projects, participants deepen their understanding of sustainability challenges and develop leadership and cross-sector collaboration skills.

JICA and ERIA co-ordinated the Indonesian fieldwork programme, which included visits to the Rajamandala Hydropower Plant, Sarimukti Landfill (TPA Sarimukti), and Cirata Floating Solar Photovoltaic Plant in West Java, as well as the State Electricity Company (PLN)’s Hydrogen Refuelling Station in Senayan, Central Jakarta, and the Muara Karang Combined Cycle Power Plant in North Jakarta. These visits provided first-hand insights into hydropower, waste management, floating solar technology, hydrogen infrastructure, and gas-fired power generation.

The visit to ERIA enabled participants to connect their fieldwork observations with regional policy perspectives and deepen their understanding of ASEAN’s green transformation.

15/10/2026

ERIA, in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade, launched the ‘Digital Trade Governance Readiness Training (Including ASEAN DEFA)’ programme at the ministry’s Centre for the Development of Trade Apparatus Competence (Pusbangkom AP) in Depok.

The capacity-building programme aims to strengthen government officials’ knowledge, analytical capabilities, and policy readiness in digital trade governance and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA). The ten-session programme brings together 40 participants: 32 officials from the Ministry of Trade, four from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, and four ERIA research associates.

The programme is facilitated by Sven Callebaut, a digital trade expert who also developed the training materials. Key topics include cross-border data flows, e-commerce, digital payments, digital identity and authentication, data protection and privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, talent mobility, competition policy, and the architecture and implementation of the ASEAN DEFA.

Delivering opening remarks on behalf of ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe, Dr Intan Murnira Ramli, Senior Policy Fellow at ERIA, emphasised that as trade issues become increasingly complex, trade officials need to understand the regulations that affect digital trade and the rationale behind them. They must also be equipped to assess how these regulations align with Indonesia’s commitments under bilateral, regional, and multilateral frameworks.

In closing, Dr Ramli encouraged participants to continue learning, co-ordinate across agencies, and translate their knowledge into effective policy as digital trade evolves. She reaffirmed ERIA’s readiness to support ASEAN in this endeavour.

13/10/2026

ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe met with Mr Kaveh Farzad, Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs at the US Department of Energy, to exchange views on regional energy co-operation.

President Watanabe expressed his appreciation for the Department’s continued engagement and support for ERIA’s work. He welcomed the opportunity to strengthen dialogue and maintain close collaboration with US partners.

ERIA reaffirmed its commitment to continued co-operation in support of ASEAN’s energy security and resilience.

13/10/2026

The Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Advocacy Group, comprising the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), and ERIA, submitted its 2026 Joint Recommendation to the 4th AZEC Ministerial Meeting in Manila, the Philippines.

The recommendation presents a unified business-sector perspective from AZEC partner countries, calling for stronger energy resilience and resource security alongside decarbonisation and economic growth. In response to the region’s evolving challenges – including rising energy demand, geopolitical uncertainties, and increasingly frequent disasters and extreme weather events – it highlights the need to strengthen energy and resource supply chains as part of a broader growth strategy.

The Joint Recommendation identifies three priority areas for action:

- Energy Resilience: Diversifying energy sources, strengthening the foundations for energy diversification, and promoting energy efficiency.
- Resource Security: Securing critical mineral supply chains and strengthening resource-circulation networks.
- Market Enablers: Promoting transition finance and green investment, strengthening cross-border carbon markets, and developing specialised talent.

The proposed actions support AZEC’s ‘triple breakthrough’ of decarbonisation, economic growth, and energy security. Through enhanced regional co-operation, they also aim to create business opportunities in green technologies, resilient energy systems, and sustainable supply chains across the region.

13/10/2026

On 8 October 2026, ERIA participated in the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Business Forum, held alongside the 4th AZEC Ministerial Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center. The forum brought together governments, international organisations, development finance institutions, and private-sector representatives to discuss transition finance and strategic energy stockpiling.

ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe delivered the closing remarks, emphasising the need to advance decarbonisation and energy security in parallel. He highlighted the importance of transition finance in mobilising capital and accelerating the energy transition, while underscoring the role of strategic stockpiling, resilient infrastructure, and regional co-operation in safeguarding energy supplies and economic stability.

President Watanabe called for closer collaboration amongst governments, businesses, financial institutions, and international partners. He reaffirmed ERIA’s commitment to supporting practical action through evidence-based research, policy dialogue, and its Asia Zero Emission Center (AZE Center). He also thanked the Government of the Philippines, Keidanren, ASEAN-BAC, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and other participating institutions for their support.

13/10/2026

It is with profound sadness that ERIA mourns the passing of our beloved colleague and friend, Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Senior Research Fellow for Innovation, on 5 October 2026. Affectionately known to us all as Dr Anbu, he will be deeply missed by his colleagues and friends at ERIA.

ERIA extends its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.