IsDB Center of Excellence Participated in the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 28 May 2025 – Sitting on the chairmanship of ASEAN for the year 2025, Malaysia hosted the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit held on 23-27 May 2025 bringing together Head of States from across the ASEAN region, GCC countries and China to further advance regional financial cooperation, while addressing global and regional economic challenges.
Representing IsDB, Mr. Samer Elesawi, Head of KLCoE participated in ‘ASEAN-GCC-China CEO Roundtable’. This high-level dialogue brought together top executives and thought leaders from the ASEAN region, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China to explore strategic collaboration across one of the world’s most dynamic economic corridors, representing a combined GDP of over USD 24 trillion.
The roundtable provided a platform for visionary discussions aimed at strengthening economic linkages and unlocking new opportunities for sustainable growth across the ASEAN–GCC–China corridor. Participants engaged on a wide range of transformative themes, including Financing the ASEAN–GCC–China Growth Corridor, AI, Clean Energy & Digital Infrastructure, and Food Security & the Halal Economy for Resilient Supply Chains.
In the discussion, he contributed to the session on Halal Industry Cooperation, stressing that demand is no longer the issue—the real challenge lies in supply. He advocated for deeper regional integration, improved mutual recognition of halal standards, and strategic efforts to build resilient supply chains and unlock the full potential of the halal economy.
In conjunction with the event, KLCoE also took part in the 46th ASEAN Summit Exhibition 2025. Over the 5-days exhibition, the IsDB booth drew a diverse range of visitors, ranging from foreign delegations, government agencies, financial institutions, academia and the private sectors.
ASEAN is a regional grouping of 10 countries in Southeast Asia "that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its members. 3 Members of ASEAN are also IsDB Member countries, namely Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.