ASEAN Should Go 'Full Steam' Ahead On AEC, Says Official

By Mohd Khairi Idham Amran & Azzah Mohamad Som KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) -- ASEAN chair Malaysia should push member countries to go "full steam" ahead in implementing integration measures under the Asean Economic Community (AEC), according to a Laotian official. "With about eight months left, Malaysia should push for measures that are yet to be fully implemented," Laos Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Director of ASEAN Economic Cooperation Division, Kiengkhammanh Khottavong said. As of end-March, 90.5 per cent of the measures which included tariffs, investments, services, air transport, financial services, Customs procedures and standards, had been successfully implemented. The remaining 9.5 per cent comprises the 10th services package, single self-certification scheme, chapters with Japan and ASEAN single window. Khottavong told Bernama, he was confident that a majority of ASEAN members, would achieve the outlined targets. However, he did not rule out the possibility of the less developed ASEAN members, facing the likelihood of challenges in fulfilling some requirements under the AEC. Khottavong said this on the sidelines of the 10th ASEAN Economic Integration Working Group High Level Task Force meeting here, Friday. Set to come into effect by December this year, the AEC is aimed at creating a single market and production base, to further bolster ASEAN's progress and prosperity. Themed, "Our People, Our Community, Our Vision", Malaysia's vision throughout its chairmanship is the creation of a "people-centered ASEAN" and involving all sectors of society in the 10-member grouping's activities. ASEAN comprises 10 countries, namely, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. --BERNAMA