OECD-Southeast Asia Policy Roundtable on Shipbuilding, Steel and Artificial Intelligence

This opening session will formally commence the roundtable, outlining its objectives and setting the overall policy context. Senior officials from the OECD and the Government of Japan will welcome participants and highlight the importance of strengthened OECD–Japan–Southeast Asia co-operation on economic security. Introductory remarks will also emphasise the relevance of shipbuilding, steel, and AI as strategic sectors for resilient and sustainable growth.

• Naoko UEDA, Head of the OECD Tokyo Office
• Iwao HORII, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

The Director of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) will provide a keynote providing an overview of the current geopolitical environment and the rising importance of enhancing economic security in Southeast Asia. The presentation will highlight the expanding role of science, technology and innovation policy fields – ranging from governance and diffusion of emerging technology to industry policies, research security, value-chain resilience, and productivity- in ensuring resilience, productivity and competitiveness. It would also address interconnected challenges facing the shipbuilding, steel, and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors.

Shifting to a regional perspective, remarks will further explain how partner economies can benefit from OECD policy analyses, data-sharing, and multilateral co-operation. The session will underscore the importance of strengthened international collaboration to enhance resilience, address shared risks, and promote open, predictable, and secure economic environments across the Southeast Asean region.

• Jerry SHEEHAN, Director, Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), OECD

Following the introductory remarks by the Director of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, the Head of the Structural and Industry Policy Division will deliver a presentation situating the OECD’s long-standing work on global shipbuilding sector. The presentation will provide insights on shipbuilding capacity and challenges in the Southeast Asian shipbuilding sector, including key findings of the OECD’s Peer Review of the Philippines Shipbuilding Industries, launched last year. It will also highlight forthcoming work on the OECD’s Peer Review of the Shipbuilding Industries of ASEAN economies, inviting participants to share their initial views and expectations.

Following the OECD presentations, the Government of Japan will outline its national policies related to strengthening competitiveness and resilience in Japan’s shipbuilding and maritime industries, including measures addressing supply-chain vulnerabilities, technological upgrading, and economic security priorities.

Representatives from Southeast Asian countries will then share perspectives from their respective national contexts. They will highlight key challenges—such as exposure to underdeveloped infrastructure and supply chain, competitiveness pressures, global market distortions, investment needs, workforce constraints, and the accelerating transition towards digitalisation and decarbonisation—and discuss ongoing policy measures to enhance resilience and competitiveness in the sector.

The session will conclude with an open discussion, enabling OECD, Japanese, Southeast Asian representatives, and other participants to exchange insights on shared challenges and explore opportunities for deeper co-operation in strengthening the resilience of the regional shipbuilding industry.

• Setting the scene: Jerry SHEEHAN, Director, Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, OECD
• Stephan RAES, Head of Division, Structural and Industry Policy Division, OECD *Moderator
• Japan: Mr. Masanori YOSHIDA, Director, Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Division, Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)
• Japan: Mr. Hideaki SAITO, Executive Managing Director of Shipbuilders' Association of Japan
• Philippines: Engr. Ramon C. HERNANDEZ, Chief of Staff Chief of Staff to Administrator (Ms. Sonia B. MALALUAN), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
• Philippines: Mr. Reynaldo LIGNES, Chief Investments Specialist Heavy Industries Division, Manufacturing Industries Service Board of Investments
• Thailand: Mr. Narinsak SATTAPRASIT, Deputy Director General of the Marine Department
• Indonesia: Mr. Andi Oscar LA GALIGO, representing the Director-General of Metal, Machinery, Transportation Equipment and Electronics Industry, Ministry of Industry
• Vietnam: Mr. VU Thai Son, Official of the Shipping, Safety and Vessels Department, Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration (VIMAWA), Ministry of Construction

Following the introductory remarks by the Director of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, the Head of the Structural and Industry Policy Division will deliver a presentation situating the OECD’s long-standing work on the global steel sector. The presentation will provide insights on trends and challenges regarding steelmaking capacity expansions and increasing cross-border investments in the Southeast Asian steel sector, deriving from the OECD’s work on addressing steel excess capacity and trade circumvention. It will also highlight the work in the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC), which is currently expanding its membership with a view towards Southeast Asian countries.

Following the OECD presentations, the Government of Japan will outline national policies to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of Japan’s steel industry, including measures addressing carbon neutrality, upstream raw material risks, technological upgrading, and broader economic security implications.

Representatives from Southeast Asian countries and institutions will then share perspectives from their respective national/regional contexts. They will highlight key challenges—such as steel excess capacity, non-market policies and practices, competitiveness pressures, investment needs, and regulatory transparency —and discuss ongoing policy measures to enhance resilience and competitiveness in the sector.

The session will conclude with an open discussion, enabling OECD, Japanese, Southeast Asian representatives, and other participants to exchange insights on shared challenges and explore opportunities for deeper co-operation in strengthening the resilience of the regional steel industry.

• Setting the scene: Jerry SHEEHAN, Director, Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, OECD
• Stephan RAES, Head of Division, Structural and Industry Policy Division, OECD *Moderator
• Japan: Mr. Hiroyuki HATADA, Deputy Director-General, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
• Japan: Mr. Takanari YAMASHITA, Managing Director, The Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF)
• Philippines: Mr. Reynaldo LIGNES, Chief Investments Specialist Heavy Industries Division, Manufacturing Industries Service Board of Investments
• Thailand: Ms. Patoo TONGJUL, Director of the Sectoral Industrial Policy 1 Division, Office of Industrial Economics
• Southeast Asia: Mr. YEOH Wee Jin, Secretary-General, the Southeast Asia Iron and Steel Institute

Following the introductory remarks by the Director of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, the Head of the AIEDT Division (participating online) will present the OECD’s insights how policymakers can enable AI’s transformative potential to drive economic growth and foster innovation, including some examples relevant to Southeast Asia. Remarks will also outline how Southeast Asian partner economies can engage in OECD initiatives - including participating the formulation of the AI Policy Toolkit, the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), and other forms of policy dialogues.

Following the OECD presentations, the Government of Japan and Representatives from Southeast Asian countries and institutions will then share perspectives from their respective will outline national/regional AI-related policies.

The session will conclude with an open discussion, engaging OECD, Japanese, Southeast Asian stakeholders and other participants in identifying shared priorities and concrete opportunities for collaboration on AI governance and economic security.

• Setting the scene: Jerry SHEEHAN, Director, Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, OECD *Moderator
• Sara RENDTORFF-SMITH, Head of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Digital Technologies Division, OECD (Online)
• Japan: Mr. Yoichi IIDA, Chair of the OECD Digital Policy Committee (DPC) and Special Policy Adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)
• Singapore: Ms. Denise WONG, Assistant Chief Executive, Data Innovation & Protection, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) (Online)
• ASEAN Secretariat: Mr. Soleh IRAWAN, Digital Skills, Cyber Security and Innovation Officer, Digital Economy Division (Online)

This concluding session will bring together senior representatives from the OECD, leading Japanese experts on security and industrial policy, and Southeast Asian stakeholders to reflect on the economic security agenda in a broader STI policies and its relevance for the Southeast Asian Region. Building on the formal three sessions, the discussion will explore how cross-cutting and cross-border structural challenges—such as market distortions, supply-chain dependencies, and technological competition—are increasingly shaping national and regional strategies, particularly in the shipbuilding, steel, and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors. They will also consider the role of international frameworks and co-operative mechanisms in addressing common risks and strengthening resilience across sectors.

The session will also further discuss opportunities for deeper collaboration between OECD, Japan, and Southeast Asia, including joint analytical work, policy dialogues, capacity-building initiatives, and potential areas for alignment with broader regional economic security strategies. The session aims to identify shared priorities and practical pathways to enhance trust, predictability, openness, and security in the economic environment of the Southeast Asian region.

• Jerry SHEEHAN, Director, OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)
• Lead Rapportors/Discussants from previous 3 Sessions
• Naoko UEDA, Head of OECD Tokyo Office

Mr. Takahiro HANADA, Deputy Director-General, Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan