AEC 2015 Remains on Track and Top Priority

“The ASEAN Economic Community 2015 remains on track and top priority,” said Dr Surin Pitsuwan, the Secretary-General of ASEAN.  In fact, in Siem Reap in August 2012, the 44^th ASEAN Economic Ministers and the 8^th ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) meetings agreed to double efforts to achieve AEC by 2015—consistent with the Phnom Penh Agenda for ASEAN Community Building endorsed by the Leaders at the 20^th Summit in April 2012.

 

They agreed to prioritize the AEC measures and aim for realistic targets by 2015, but without lowering the ambitions set by the Leaders and ensuring as well that there’s no back tracking of commitments.  The goal is still full implementation of commitments by 2015. Among the important measures to prioritize are those that impact the markets most, including measures to address non-tariff barriers, enhance the efficiency of services liberalization through the review of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS), promote attractiveness of ASEAN as an Integrated investment area with full implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA), and strengthen trade and investment facilitation (particularly in customs and transport facilitation) to encourage greater trade, services, and investment flows into ASEAN.

 

 “There have been numerous activities leading up to ‘2015.’ There will continue to be activities throughout ‘2015.’ And there will surely be continued progress and improvements after ‘2015,” clarified Dr Surin.