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In order to maintain the relationship with the ASEAN, the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) recently visited the ASEAN Secretariat-General on Monday 12 February 2018. The EU-ABC was represented by Don Kanak (EU-ABC Chairman), Theodoor Bakker (EU-ABC Vice Chairman, EuroCham Indonesia Executive Board Member), and Chris Humphrey (EU-ABC Executive Director).

The EU-ABC Delegation was warmly welcomed by the current Secretary General H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi. Amongst the other attendants were H.E. Francisco Fontan Pardo, EU Ambassador to ASEAN and Raffaele Quarto, the Head of Economic and Trade Section of the EU Delegation.

During this visit, various topics were discussed. The Secretary General referred to the constantly evolving global and regional landscape that made the challenges and opportunities facing ASEAN today different compared to its early days. Other issues also discussed including the current political, economic and social shifts confront us with non-traditional challenges and opportunities.

The meeting considered that the world is looking at ASEAN, and will measure its success on ASEAN’s resilience; how it stays on course in its integration efforts; and how it responds to emerging issues and developments arising from an interconnected world. This measures will surely enhance ASEAN’s work to strengthen physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity, and will enable ASEAN to remain the driver for the economic integration process in the region. The ASEAN Secretariat-General also recognized the important role of the business community, such as the EU ABC as well as EuroCham Indonesia.

On 6 February 2018, EuroCham attended a socialization event organized by the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) to raise awareness on new policy stipulated by BPOM Regulation No. 29/2017 and BPOM Regulation No. 30/2017 regarding Oversight of Food and Drug Imports, and its ingredients. To help reduce the high percentage of goods that need to be inspected at the border in the Customs Area, and thereby reduce dwelling time, some products under BPOM authority will now be supervised at post border after customs clearance process.

This event further discuss all the technicalities for the implementation of the new policy. In addition to representatives from BPOM, also speaking in the event was representatives from the Directorate General of Customs and Excise as well as the Indonesia National Single Window Portal Management.