Jakarta (ANTARA) - An electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem must be built within the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) because some countries in the region have the resources for EV components, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, said."
The (EV) ecosystem must be built in ASEAN. We have two producers of EV in ASEAN: Thailand and Indonesia," he pointed out at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday while discussing the ASEAN Summit.
Thailand and Indonesia have already built their EV industry, Hartarto noted. However, Indonesia is the only country in Southeast Asia that has the resources for making electric batteries.
"However, the only country that has the resources (for EVs) is Indonesia. From this, we will build the ecosystem. The Philippines also has raw materials for EVs. Therefore, we will build the EV ecosystem together," he added.
Indonesia is holding the 2023 ASEAN chairmanship this year. The theme of its chairmanship is “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.”
The theme encapsulates three pillars: ASEAN Matters, Epicentrum of Growth, and the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
Under the “Epicentrum of Growth pillar,” Indonesia will seek to ensure the toughening of energy resilience to provide sufficient support for the transition from fossil-based energy to sustainable and clean energy. Therefore, Indonesia is urging ASEAN to establish a designated ecosystem for EV development in the region.
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Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi on April 5, 2023, said that several agreements will be finalized during the 42nd ASEAN Summit, including the one on the development of EVs. The 42nd ASEAN Summit will take place in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on May 10–11.