Jakarta, 31 July 2025: Mr John Denton, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the world’s largest and most representative business organisation, paid a courtesy visit to ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe at ERIA’s office in Jakarta.

Following their initial meeting in Tokyo in May 2025, this visit provided an opportunity to deepen discussions on the shifting global trade landscape. Both leaders exchanged views on the need to safeguard and revitalise the rules-based multilateral trading system amidst escalating trade tensions and growing policy fragmentation.

President Watanabe and Secretary-General Denton reaffirmed their shared commitment to fostering inclusive, open, and resilient trade as a driver of sustainable economic growth.

They also discussed potential avenues for collaboration, including joint research and the co-organisation of multistakeholder dialogues aimed at advancing evidence-based policy solutions and enhancing engagement between the policy and business communities.

The visit further underlined ERIA’s commitment to anchoring its research in business realities and ensuring that its policy recommendations remain responsive to the needs of the region’s economic stakeholders.