| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SINGAPORE : ASEAN is well on its way to integrate with the world economy.
This assessment comes from its Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong.
Mr Ong believes that ASEAN is ready to compete on the global stage in areas such as goods and services and flow of capital.
When it comes to production chain, logistics and trade in services, ASEAN is still new to the game.
In fact, some of its members are still struggling to keep up with the ASEAN workplan on trade and services.
But there is a lot more progress in other areas such as the flow of capital and investments.
Speakers at the 2007 ASEAN Business and Investment Summit believe that this is partly due to the opening up of Asian giants, China and India.
Mr Ong said, "The good thing is that we are between two big giant economies. These two big giant economies have moved on the new elements of the global business, on services, logistics...so they are now forcing ASEAN to also accelerate our programmes, to open up trade in services...and other business sectors that have not been moving too fast. So we have eight years between now and 2015.
"We believe that 70-80 percent of the plan to integrate our economy in these sectors has already been accomplished. If we diligently implement what we have already settled, I think we will be 70-80 percent ready to compete on the global stage in terms of goods, services, flow of capital, investments, as well as talented people."
The former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Musa Hitam, said, business is one way that will drive the future of ASEAN and help in its integration.
He said, "The trick in making ASEAN work and making members of ASEAN behave is that we must make it worthwhile for the countries to want to stay and not worthwhile for them to be out...If you succeed economically to deliver, no country would be able to say we want to get out, they want to stay. (This is) of course a consensual approach; this is idealistic but this is something which would then encourage us to 'go-go-go' in terms of the economic objective of ASEAN."
The former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister also stressed that it is up to the business community to ensure that all impediments to doing business in ASEAN countries can be overcome.
But some participants stressed that the business community alone, will not be enough.
What is also crucial is the political will of ASEAN leaders to enhance regional cooperation.
Ali Alatas, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Indonesia, said, "I agree with what Tun Musa Hitam said...(it) is (the) strong political will, especially among the leaders of ASEAN in increasing efforts towards enhancing regional cooperation and integration towards giving higher priority to ASEAN and our respective domestic agenda to ensure (the success) of ASEAN...member states need to show an ability to look beyond narrow short-term national interest to pursue the broader regional course."
The session on Friday marked the start of a three-day public-private sector dialogue with political leaders in the region.
It is a way to chart the way forward for ASEAN businesses and facilitate the creation of an ASEAN Economic Community. - CNA/ms
|
