Asean intensifies efforts
Asean economic ministers resolved to further intensify efforts in facilitating trade, services, and investment within Asean, and to seriously address the impediments to market access of goods and services to ensure that Asean moves toward one integrated m
At the Asean Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) in Nay Pyi Taw in Burma, the ministers yesterday noted the developments in the implementation of various initiatives aimed at establishing the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 and particularly looked forward to the entry into force of the Asean Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA) in the days to come.
Tariffs within Asean are reduced to zero on 99.65 per cent of the traded tariff lines for the Asean-6 and 98.86 per cent for Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Vietnam.
The ministers also discussed the growing role of the business sector.
Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, highlighted need for better engagement with the business sector.
"We should not only listen to the issues they have raised with us, we should also provide them with responses to the issues that they have risen. Otherwise, the private sector will not take us seriously,” he said.
The ministers also noted that the foreign-based multinational corporations (MNCs) and associations were more forthcoming and focused with solid issues of interest to their business community. The ministers would therefore call on Asean-based organisations also to be proactive and voluble in raising concerns.
“We also need to find a way on how to create the space for the young, active, and enthusiastic business persons in Asean—who will probably be more upfront in raising issues as the younger generation can better relate to Asean,” stated Dr Surin Pitsuwan, the secretary-general of Asean.
