The Forum will open with addresses from high-level speaker, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Maris Sangiampongsa; the OECD Secretary-General, Matthias Cormann; the co-chairs of the Southeast Asia Regional Programme, Viet Nam and Australia; and the founding co-chair of the Programme, Japan.

Business at OECD (BIAC) and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) are integrated into the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme through the OECD-Southeast Asia Business Network. The Business Network has developed a policy statement to support discussion at the Regional Forum, which will be introduced in this short session.

In 2024, the OECD took the historic step of opening accession discussions with Indonesia and Thailand, the OECD’s first accession candidate countries from Southeast Asia. This panel will feature representatives from these countries for a discussion on their journeys towards accession and the value they see in OECD membership. The OECD’s Accession Coordinator, Gita Kothari, will help event participants understand the OECD accession process and how it works in practice.

Membership is far from the only way to engage effectively with the OECD. Established in 2014, the Southeast Asia Regional Programme has focused on supporting ASEAN countries to benefit from the OECD’s work across a wide range of economic and social policy areas. In addition, the OECD has a number of other global relations tools that can help elevate Southeast Asian engagement to the next level. This panel discussion features representatives from a range of Southeast Asian countries for a discussion on the ways in which they have engaged with the OECD.

The OECD and Southeast Asia have never been closer. With Indonesia and Thailand becoming OECD accession candidates in 2024—the same year SEARP celebrated its 10th anniversary—the region's engagement with the OECD is stronger than ever. The 2025 Regional Forum will highlight the benefits of OECD membership, focusing on investment attraction and trade policy development, with active participation from the private sector. The investment should be backed by science, and they should contribute to long-term sustainability, not just a one-off benefit. The roundtable will highlight the latest investment trends and examine how the investment landscape in Southeast Asia has been changing, as well as anticipated future developments.

The OECD’s Committees and subsidiary bodies are at the heart of its mission to deliver better policies for better lives. Committees bring together OECD members and partner countries to share experiences and review policy implementation and impact. Committees also oversee OECD projects, data collection, policy tools and analysis in which non-OECD countries regularly participate. The session will introduce a selection of OECD Committees to explore in greater depth. Drawing on Southeast Asian experiences, it will illustrate how participation in the meetings and processes of these bodies can support policy development in the region, based on comprehensive data and best practices from around the globe.

This roundtable will explore the transformative impact of AI and digital technologies on business and economic growth. As Southeast Asia emerges as a global digital powerhouse, this roundtable will address AI adoption, regulatory frameworks, digital trade, and the future of work, ensuring businesses can thrive in an era of rapid technological change. Participants will engage in high-level discussions, gain insights from OECD and ASEAN experts, and connect with businesses shaping the region’s digital and AI ecosystem. Group Photo session will be included.

Creating a sound investment climate goes beyond merely increasing investment volumes; it requires a strategic approach to maximising economic and social benefits while balancing openness to foreign investment with the need to safeguard national security. Emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) face additional challenges, particularly in mobilising private investment and finance. The OECD has developed a set of policy instruments to help EMDEs address these challenges and attract high-quality foreign investment. This session will gather both public and private points of view to explore how Southeast Asian countries can leverage these tools to foster sustainable investment, drive positive development outcomes – including technology and skills transfer – and strengthen economic resilience.

Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region sit at the centre of an increasingly complex interplay of international economic organisations, agreements and networks. This afternoon plenary will bring together the rest of the day’s discussions in this overarching context, as participants reflect on how the OECD and Southeast Asia can continue to strengthen their cooperation through the many different avenues on offer. Possible discussion questions could include: • With Southeast Asia’s two largest economies on the journey to OECD accession, how can the OECD complement and strengthen the various existing regional organisations, agreements and networks? • What are the most promising policy areas and OECD standards that can contribute to strong and sustainable growth in Southeast Asia? • How can the OECD continue to support ASEAN economic integration, especially as ASEAN works to finalise and implement its Community Vision 2045?