ASEAN economies need to tackle energy shocks

Atsushi Mimura, Japan's Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs, urged ASEAN economies to address pressing challenges, including energy shocks and inflation, Business Recorder reported. He made the remarks on Wednesday during IMF-World Bank meetings held in Bangkok. The comments focused on pressures that are already close at hand for the region's economies. The report presents the message as a call for region-wide action rather than steps by a single country.

Mimura also argued that fiscal support should be extended beyond ASEAN to Japan as well. He described that support as targeted, tailored and temporary, meaning it should address specific needs and not persist indefinitely. Together, these remarks outline Japan's position on how governments should respond to the energy and inflation pressures.