Asia Pacific Geoeconomics Council preparatory meeting

The Institute of Geoeconomics (IOG), led by Kazuto Suzuki, held a preparatory meeting for the Asia Pacific Geoeconomics Council on March 29, 2023, at the International House of Japan. Experts on economic security from South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and India were invited to discuss their respective countries’ economic security in the context of the varying political and economic conditions in Asia, with the aim of deepening our understanding and achieving common ground.

The program began with a presentation by James Kim, Senior Fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, on “South Korea’s Economic Security Strategy,” followed by Joseph Liow, Professor at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and Tan Kah Kee Chair, who discussed “Singapore’s Role in Economic Security in Southeast Asia.” After each presentation, there was a question-and-answer session.

Next, Shiro Armstrong, Director of the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research at the Australian National University, spoke about “Australia’s Security Policy in the Asia-Pacific,” followed by Mihir Sharma, Director of the Center for Economy Growth Program at the Observer Research Foundation, who discussed “India’s Approach to Economic Integration and Security in Asia.” Finally, IOG Director Kazuto Suzuki introduced Japan’s perspective on economic security and we had a discussion with other IOG experts.

South Korea with a focus on manufacturing, Singapore as a trade-oriented country, Australia as a resource-rich nation, and India aspiring to be a leader in the Global South. This meeting has become a new starting point for creating a common foundation as part of Asia living in the age of geoeconomics, while acknowledging the differences in what each country wants to protect and pursue in terms of economic security.