Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, on 17 February 2026, participated in the ASEAN-Germany Business Roundtable: “ASEAN’s Evolving Role in a Changing World,” on the margins of his working visit to Germany. The discussion reflected on ASEAN’s geostrategic significance in the global economic fragmentation and its strategic role in connecting the Indo-Pacific region. It further examined the region’s geoeconomic importance, including ASEAN’s Free Trade Agreements with its partners, its approach to critical minerals, and key infrastructure initiatives such as the Global Gateway Initiative and the ASEAN Power Grid. The discussion also highlighted how German business expertise in technology, manufacturing, and green finance can capitalize on ASEAN’s economic integration while supporting the region’s sustainable growth agenda and contributing to building prosperity in ASEAN.