Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah says consistent ASEAN policies on emissions and taxonomy will create a stable, single market to attract capital.

KUALA LUMPUR: Consistent policies and common mechanisms across ASEAN can create a more connected market, making the bloc more attractive to capital.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said this provides a base of stability for the region’s future progress.

He said adopting common policies would make ASEAN markets more fluid and interconnected. This includes standardised emissions measurement and aligned taxonomy in areas like climate change.

“So those (common policies) attract capital, and they provide the base of stability for ASEAN to progress going forward,” he said at a high-level roundtable in Bangkok.

Amir Hamzah said ASEAN comprises diverse countries with a population of 700 million, offering significant growth potential.

He said the bloc can strengthen inter-regional cooperation by identifying common ground and focusing on non-controversial areas.

He cited the ASEAN Power Grid as an example of a fundamentally win-win initiative for all member countries.

Amir Hamzah also pointed to Malaysia-Singapore cooperation on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). He highlighted that combined efforts make both countries more effective than they would be individually.

“And from the inter-country cooperation, we grow the inter-ASEAN cooperation, then we get even better and stronger together,” he added.

 The Sun Malaysia