Inaugural ASEAN-Canada Strategic Dialogue Explores Practical Paths to a Resilient Energy Future

The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) was proud to serve as a Communications Partner for the Inaugural ASEAN-Canada Strategic Dialogue: Energy Security in ASEAN – Energy Transition for a Resilient Future, held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on June 23, 2026. The Dialogue was co-hosted by the Canada Mission to ASEAN, the Permanent Mission of the Lao Democratic Republic to ASEAN, and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to ASEAN, and co-organized by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia.

The event featured opening remarks from H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN; Mr. Weldon Epp, Assistant Deputy Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Global Affairs Canada; and H.E. Phongsavanh Sisoulath, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR. This was followed by a compelling scene-setting presentation by Professor Mari Pangestu, Indonesian President's Special Envoy for International Trade and Multilateral Cooperation, on ASEAN's energy future and why this transition must be approached differently. The dialogue featured a fireside chat, "Transition to a Resilient Future – Turning Energy Transition Ambitions into Real Projects," moderated by H.E. Ambra Dickie, Ambassador of Canada to ASEAN. The session brought valuable perspectives from Dato' Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Energy, and Mr. Peter McKelvie, Technical Director – Power Asia and Team Lead – Power Singapore at WSP, who discussed the practical steps needed to translate energy transition commitments into bankable and implementable projects. 

This was followed by a panel discussion, "Powering ASEAN's Energy Transition – Balancing Energy Security, Affordability, and Sustainability," moderated by Dr. Yose Rizal Damuri, Executive Director of CSIS Indonesia. The Co-Chair of CABC Nuclear Energy Working Group, Dr. Sara Supaamornkul of Candu Energy Inc.,  joined regional policymakers and experts in examining how technology, policy certainty, and long-term planning can support ASEAN's transition to a secure, affordable, and sustainable energy future.

Dr. Sara highlighted that a successful energy transition begins not only with technology, but also with the right mindset, policy stability, and long-term planning. She emphasized that attracting large-scale investment requires regulatory certainty and consistent government commitment. She also underscored the role that proven technologies such as CANDU nuclear reactors can play in providing reliable, low-carbon baseload power for decades while leveraging Canada's unique strengths across the nuclear fuel cycle and broader energy ecosystem.

The dialogue highlighted growing opportunities for Canadian and ASEAN businesses to collaborate through investment, innovation, technology partnerships, and infrastructure development in support of the region's energy transition. Achieving a resilient energy future will require strong public-private collaboration, cross-border partnerships, and ongoing engagement between industry and policymakers. Therefore, CABC remains committed to supporting these connections by serving as a platform that brings together businesses, governments, and stakeholders across Canada and ASEAN to identify opportunities, address challenges, and advance practical solutions that deliver mutual economic and sustainability benefits.

This inaugural dialogue demonstrated that Canada and ASEAN are increasingly becoming strategic partners in shaping the energy systems of the future.