Miti To Mark ASEAN's Golden Jubilee With An Array Of Programmes,Activities

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) will mark ASEAN's 50th anniversary with an array of programmes and activities to further boost trade, investment and people to people connectivity. The programmes and activities will take into account the target groups, including the public and private sector, state governments, institutions of higher education, chambers of commerce, as well as civil society organisations. "It is important to create greater awareness of the benefits of ASEAN among the people," Miti Minister Mustapa Mohamed said at the soft launch in Commemoration of ASEAN's 50th Anniversary here, Monday. On the economic pillar, Miti is planning several initiatives and events related to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and to be undertaken throughout 2017. These are namely, intra-ASEAN trade and investment seminars, an ASEAN Border Trade Programme, the ASEAN SME week, ASEAN Youth camp and ASEAN Investment Forum. Mustapa said ASEAN's current focus is towards economic integration in implementing the AEC Blueprint 2025 launched in 2015. "ASEAN also will continue the efforts at reducing trade and investment barriers, especially those often referred to as the behind the border measures and reducing compliance cost," he added. -- BERNAMA