Japanese Firms Seek Deeper ASEAN Ties for 2045 Vision

Japanese firms are seeking to deepen their role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) beyond merely submitting policy recommendations as the bloc moves toward its 2045 vision. This took focus at the 18th dialogue between the Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN (FJCCIA) and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Manila on Sept. 18. FJCCIA is composed of Japanese chambers of commerce and industry from 10 ASEAN countries, representing 7,420 member companies. It has held an annual dialogue with the ASEAN secretary-general since 2008. The talks come as businesses navigate growing uncertainty, often described as an era of “permanent disruption,” stemming from the decoupling of high-tech supply chains due to intensifying US-China tensions and logistics disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. FJCCIA chairman Shigeru Shimoda said rising protectionism and non-tariff measures are reducing investment predictability for companies. “Japanese companies are not merely external investors; as ‘ASEAN Citizens’ deeply rooted in local communities, we want to build prosperity together with ASEAN toward 2045,” Shimoda, who is also chairman of the Philippine-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said. With the 11-member regional bloc moving from its Economic Community Blueprint 2025 toward the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, Shimoda presented the FJCCIA recommendations aimed at deepening Japanese-ASEAN co-creation partnerships. The recommendations cover resilient supply chains, the green and circular economy, digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) and human capital development. FJCCIA said it wanted to help strengthen ASEAN’s competitiveness through cooperation on institutional and digital connectivity, decarbonization, development of a region-wide power grid, establishing Data Free Flow with Trust and facilitating movement of highly skilled talent. The recommendations were based on the latest FJCCIA Survey 2026, which gathered 1,041 responses from member companies operating across the region.