ASEAN Deputy Secretary General for Corporate and Community Affairs Development Bagas Hapsoro has hailed Germany as one of the most important development partners of ASEAN, with a total funding of 48 million EUR to the bloc’s projects.

Addressing the first ASEAN – Germany strategic planning workshop in Indonesia on Mar. 5, Hapsoro said other than financial assistance, a significant part of Germany's contribution comes in the form of technical expertise, capacity building, upgrading skills, as well as project management to meet ASEAN’s development demand during regional and global integration.

The event focused discussion on the outcomes of the ASEAN-German cooperative programme in the fields of forestry and climate change, ASEAN’s economic integration, and enhancing public-private sector engagement in the ASEAN region, both at national and regional levels.

Participants also gave recommendations on the promotion of bilateral cooperation in future.

Hapsoro highlighted the significance of the event, especially at a time when Myanmar is preparing to undertake the Chair of ASEAN by 2014 and the ASEAN community is about to admit Timor Leste as its newest member.