To realise ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, business dialogues continue to serve as part of ongoing efforts to further cooperation and collaboration between ASEAN and Japanese businesses in ASEAN Member States to create a more conducive investment environment for businesses operating in the region. This is the main message during the 5th Business Dialogue between Dr Surin Pitsuwan, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, and the Federation of Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN (FJCCIA) which has just convened in Bangkok, Thailand.
This continued and concrete interaction with tangible outcomes has contributed to the confidence of Japanese investments in ASEAN. In just two years, the number of FJCCIA members has soared from 4,447 companies in 2010 to 5,034 companies in 2012, whose business engagements are primarily in the automotive and auto-parts, electronic and electrical appliance, chemicals, consumer products, and financial services.
In the 5 sessions of business dialogue under the leadership of Dr Surin, ASEAN has seen strong resurgence on ASEAN-Japanese economic ties, where Japan in 2011 turned out to be ASEAN’s largest export market valued at US$147.41 billion - a significant growth of 43.27 percent compared to 2010. As for the two-way trade, Japan remains as the second largest trading partner of ASEAN, valued at US$273.34 billion, after China. Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) from Japan were valued at US$15.25 billion in 2011, more than four-fold increase compared to US$3.79 billion 2009 and, a 40 percent increase compared to US$10.97 billion in 2010.
The FJCCIA organised Dialogue has also seen direct interaction with the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan at the 4th Dialogue in Malaysia in 2011. This model of Dialogue between private sector associations with companies based in ASEAN and AEM, as envisioned, challenged and popularized by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, has been replicated by private sector associations of other Dialogue Partners. It is worthy of mention that the 4th FJCCIA Dialogue had resulted in two important geneses. Firstly, the endorsement to develop ASEAN-Japan 10-year Strategic Economic Cooperation Roadmap (2012-2022), which is expected to be endorsed at the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh in November 2012. The Roadmap aims to further broaden and deepen ASEAN and Japan economic cooperation and seek further collaboration in various areas. Secondly, to organise an AEM Roadshow to Japan which was successfully conducted this April, where the Honourable Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Yoshihiko Noda, gave his re-assurance on the continued support for ASEAN community building efforts and in acknowledging ASEAN’s centrality in the emerging regional economic architecture through the ASEAN Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
“The original idea was to give you the full right for a free and frank interaction to raise issues. The complaints raised have also been given serious attention by ASEAN and we see that issues being raised have increased since the first time we met; I see that you are as committed and are serious in contributing to the strong and vibrant growth of ASEAN. I see Japan’s growth and prosperity is ASEAN’s growth and prosperity and vice versa,” said Dr Surin to the FJCCIA members in his keynote address.
The FJCCIA Dialogue discussed improvement of the customs clearance by conducting a time-release study of customs procedure in ASEAN member states; abolishment the requirement of invoice when applying for certificate of origin; harmonization of the requirements for the standard and conformity for safety and energy efficiency, particularly for the automotive and electrical appliances; and noted the developments in implementing the ASEAN Single Window (ASW). Along with these, the ASEAN Secretariat also took note of the discussions on the key challenges ahead in enhancing ASEAN Connectivity.
Giang Tu
Vietnamese
