ASEAN Integration Slowed By Varying Progress In Key Policy Areas

By Mohd Khairi Idham Amran KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The pace of ASEAN integration has been slowed by varying progress in key policy areas, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Deputy Secretary-General Rintaro Tamaki said the progress in the key policy areas in the three frameworks -- ASEAN, ASEAN+3 and ASEAN+6 -- varied from one another. "Deeper integration can be facilitated through co-operatively addressing a broader set of policy areas, in particular, issues related to green/energy and private sector development," he said. Tamaki was speaking here Friday at the launch of a report titled, "Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India 2016" during the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2015 (ABIS) held in conjunction with 27th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits which began on Wednesday until Sunday. He said a deeper integration could be facilitated through better harmonisation of regional, sub-regional and national planning and improved monitoring of progress. Monitoring the region's integration lacked transparency with unclear methodology and unavailable details as it used self-reported results which were not updated regularly. "More detailed, transparent and regularly updated monitoring indicators will be needed in the region," Tamaki said, adding that ASEAN countries too needed to align their national and regional targets to accelerate the region's integration. "The technical and country-specific expertise of national officials could be used to a greater extent," he added. On Sunday, the 10 ASEAN leaders are expected to sign the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the establishment of the ASEAN Community and the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2025. -- BERNAMA