The Government of Malaysia hosted the recently concluded 22^nd Meeting of AMEICC Working Group on Chemical Industry (WG-CI) on July 5-6, 2017 at the Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Datuk Seri J. Jayasiri, Secretary General, Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia delivered his welcoming remarks. He noted that “ASEAN-Japan relationship has been steadily progressing over the past 43 years, with growing collaboration in various areas to support the development of ASEAN economies. Collaboration in the chemical industry is one such example that has benefited both ASEAN and Japan.”

Furthermore, Datuk Seri J. Jayasiri mentioned that “The chemical industry is undergoing major changes worldwide. The emergence of Middle Eastern countries and China, India and Brazil as manufacturers of chemicals on a mammoth scale, both for their own consumption and for export worldwide has injected increasing competitiveness. Companies in these countries are investing in plants in the US and Europe whilst US and European companies are investing in plants in these large emerging countries, making the industry as a whole totally international in the way business is conducted.”

Respective AMS (i.e. Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) presented the current status of chemical industry of each country and the updates on their chemical safety management in national laws, regulations, and responsible care activities, the development of Globally Harmonized System (GHS) as well as efforts for achieving the goals under World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) 2020.

Delegate from Japan also presented the next steps on WG-CI; a Proposal for “3 years Action Plan” and “ASEAN- JAPAN Chemical Industry’s Labor Safety, Operational Safety and Environment Improvement Initiative”

The meeting was attended by 60 delegates comprising Government officials and industry players from ASEAN Member States and Japan attending the Technical Working Group on the ASEAN-Japan Chemical Safety Database (TWG-AJCSD) and the WG-CI meetings. The Philippines was represented by Dir. Eries Cagatan, Director, Manufacturing Industries Service of the Board of Investments, Ms. Pauline Torre- DTI-BOI, Ms. Janet Marcellana and Ms. Gretchen Fontejon- Enarle of SPIK.