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Business group: Southeast Asia is the "new China" for supply chains.

Business group: Southeast Asia is the "new China" for supply chains.
Arsjad Rasjid, the chairperson of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) © Media Indonesia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – According to the head of an influential regional business body, Southeast Asia is the "new China" and should be at the center of the global supply chain.

Arsjad Rasjid, chairperson of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), stated in an interview that the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should be the world's "supply chain."

"ASEAN should be the world's supply chain; ASEAN is the new China," Arsjad said in an interview with Al Jazeera last week.

Arsjad, who also leads the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, believes the bloc is on track to replace China "as soon as tomorrow" because the region's abundance of nickel and other key minerals.

"Food and agriculture are also important in ASEAN countries," said Arsjad, who was in Kuala Lumpur to meet with government officials and business leaders.

The remarks come as China and Chinese companies, particularly in critical sectors such as advanced chips, face increasing Western-imposed restrictions in the midst of Washington-heated Beijing's geopolitical rivalry. Tensions have prompted industry titans such as Apple, Google, and Samsung to seek new manufacturing bases outside of China, particularly in Vietnam.

ASEAN-BAC, ASEAN's private sector arm, is tasked with facilitating regional economic cooperation and integration. This year, Indonesia serves as ASEAN's chairman.

According to US Geological Survey data, Indonesia has the world's largest nickel reserves at 21 million tonnes, accounting for nearly one-quarter of the global total. With 4.8 million metric tonnes, the Philippines has the fourth-largest reserves. Nickel is a critical component in the production of stainless steel, electronic devices and electric vehicles.

"Indonesia contributes 40% of global nickel output. "If you include the Philippines, it rises to 50-60 percent," Arsjad explained.

Indonesia, along with Thailand and Vietnam, aims to become a key player in the electric vehicle supply chain by attracting investment by leveraging its large nickel reserves.

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Akhyari Hananto

I began my career in the banking industry in 1997, and stayed approx 6 years in it. This industry boost his knowledge about the economic condition in Indonesia, both macro and micro, and how to More understand it. My banking career continued in Yogyakarta when I joined in a program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB),as the coordinator for a program aimed to help improve the quality of learning and teaching process in private universities in Yogyakarta. When the earthquake stroke Yogyakarta, I chose to join an international NGO working in the area of ?disaster response and management, which allows me to help rebuild the city, as well as other disaster-stricken area in Indonesia. I went on to become the coordinator for emergency response in the Asia Pacific region. Then I was assigned for 1 year in Cambodia, as a country coordinator mostly to deliver developmental programs (water and sanitation, education, livelihood). In 2009, he continued his career as a protocol and HR officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, and two years later I joined the Political and Economic Section until now, where i have to deal with extensive range of people and government officials, as well as private and government institution troughout eastern Indonesia. I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief in Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), a growing and influential social media movement, and was selected as one of The Most Influential Netizen 2011 by The Marketeers magazine. I also wrote a book on "Fundamentals of Disaster Management in 2007"?, "Good News From Indonesia : Beragam Prestasi Anak Bangsa di dunia"? which was luanched in August 2013, and "Indonesia Bersyukur"? which is launched in Sept 2013. In 2014, 3 books were released in which i was one of the writer; "Indonesia Pelangi Dunia"?, "Indonesia The Untold Stories"? and "Growing! Meretas Jalan Kejayaan" I give lectures to students in lectures nationwide, sharing on full range of issues, from economy, to diplomacy Less
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