Improving Human Resources Called Key To Facing AEC 2015

Jakarta, Nov 12 (Antara) - Preparing reliable human resources is a key to competing in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which comes into existence at the end of 2015, an Industry Ministry official said. "To strengthen our competitive edge in anticipation of a single market under the AEC scheme in 2015, creating reliable human resources is a must," the ministry`s director general of small and medium industries, Euis Saedah, said in a press statement released on Tuesday. Indonesian human resources must be prepared to compete regionally and globally through the development of small and medium-sized industries and the creation of new entrepreneurs, she said. "With the implementation of AEC drawing nearer, it is time for us to make improvements and take steps as early as possible to face ever-increasingly tighter competition," she said. Euis noted that cooperation and national interest must top the list of priorities to enable Indonesia to gain the greatest benefit from the implementation of AEC in 2015. She said the government continued encouraging small and medium-sized entrepreneurs by providing them with a variety of training and machines through revitalization and restructuring programs to increase their productivity. AEC is also aimed at creating a free flow of goods, services and skilled workers among ASEAN member states. As the most populous ASEAN country, Indonesia is a potential market for goods, services and skilled workers from other ASEAN member states. "We must be aware that Indonesia, as the largest market in the ASEAN region, has the potential to receive a glut of consumer goods from other ASEAN member states," he said.