On 23 August 2006, during the 13th Consultation held between the ASEAN Economic Ministers and the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (AEM-METI) in Kuala Lumpur, the name 'Economic Research Institute for
ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)' appeared for the first time.
In this meeting, Mr Toshihiro Nikai, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, proposed to establish a
think tank called ERIA that would approximate an East Asia version of the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) and committed to contribute more than 10 billion yen in 10 years. A joint
media statement of said consultation later stated that the ASEAN Ministers welcomed Japan's proposal and
requested Japan to discuss it further with the ASEAN Secretariat.
In response to this, then ASEAN Secretary General, Mr Ong Keng Yong, initiated the creation of an ERIA Expert
Group chaired by Dr Hadi Soesastro, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
(CSIS), Indonesia, and composed of experts from 16 East Asia Summit (EAS) countries and the ASEAN Secretariat.
The Expert Group had intensive discussions on the overall idea of ERIA, in particular, its objectives,
activities, structure, research themes, and capacity building program.
At the Second East Asia Summit held on 15 January 2007 in Cebu, Philippines, Mr Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of
Japan, formally proposed to establish ERIA and the EAS Leaders welcomed said proposal. Thereupon, on 1 April
2007, the Expert Group agreed on the Points of Convergence on the Institutional Set-Up of ERIA, which defined
the objectives, activities and policy interface of ERIA. In addition, two test-run research projects were
started through a collaboration among 16 regional research institutes. One was titled 'Developing a Roadmap
toward East Asian Economic Integration', which was reported to the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting in August
2007, and the other was the 'Energy Security in East Asia', which was reported to the East Asia Energy
Ministers' Meeting also in August 2007. Based on the results of these projects and the thorough discussions of
the Expert Group, the formal establishment of ERIA was agreed upon by all the leaders of the East Asia Summit
at the Third East Asia Summit in Singapore on 21 November 2007.
At the Second East Asia Summit held on 15 January 2007 in Cebu, Philippines, Mr Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of
Japan, formally proposed to establish ERIA and the EAS Leaders welcomed said proposal. Thereupon, on 1 April
2007, the Expert Group agreed on the Points of Convergence on the Institutional Set-Up of ERIA, which defined
the objectives, activities and policy interface of ERIA. In addition, two test-run research projects were
started through a collaboration among 16 regional research institutes. One was titled 'Developing a Roadmap
toward East Asian Economic Integration', which was reported to the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting in August
2007, and the other was the 'Energy Security in East Asia', which was reported to the East Asia Energy
Ministers' Meeting also in August 2007. Based on the results of these projects and the thorough discussions of
the Expert Group, the formal establishment of ERIA was agreed upon by all the leaders of the East Asia Summit
at the Third East Asia Summit in Singapore on 21 November 2007.
2006
Japan Proposes Creation of ERIA
Mr Toshihiro Nikai, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry proposed the
establishment of a research institute that would later become ERIA.
2010
Partnering for Effective Research
ERIA and the ASEAN Secretariat pioneered the first Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, and EAS Leaders praised ERIA for its research endeavours.
2011
Preparing SMEs for the Future
ERIA, OECD, and ASEAN SMEWG published the ASEAN SME Policy Index.
2012
Towards a More Integrated ASEAN
ERIA was identified as one of the institutions to implement initiatives of the AEC Blueprint for ASEAN and ERIA’s Energy Unit was formed.
2013
Supporting Energy Research and Myanmar’s Progress
ERIA and the International Energy Agency published the first East Asia Energy Outlook. ERIA assisted the Government of Myanmar to develop the Myanmar Comprehensive Development Vision.
2014
Introducing ERIN and New Partners
The Energy Research Institute Network was established, an MoU between ERIA and OECD was signed, and a research initiative with UNCTAD was initiated.
2007
One Step Closer
Leaders of the East Asia Summit (EAS) agreed to formally establish ERIA at the Third East Asia Summit in Singapore on 21 November 2007.
2008
ERIA’s First Milestone
Ministers of the 16 EAS Founding Members welcomed the establishment of ERIA during the inaugural Governing Board Meeting on 3 June 2008.
2015
A Year of Important Publications
ERIA published key research publications including the Southeast Asia Energy Outlook and the ASEAN Public-Private Partnership Guidelines.
2016
Effective Regional Policies in Mind
An MoU between ERIA and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly was signed, and ERIA established its Policy Design Department.
2017
50 Years of ASEAN
ERIA released the five-volume ASEAN@50 publication to celebrate ASEAN’s 50th anniversary and signed an MoU with the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.
2018
A Decade of ERIA
ERIA marked its 10th anniversary, opened the ERIA Information Centre, and signed an MoU with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).
