Progress On Asean Single Market To Be Reviewed At AEC Meet

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, May 9 (Bernama) -- Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang will be in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar to attend the 11th Asean Economic Community (AEC) Council Meeting on Saturday. In a statement, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said the meeting will be held in the lead-up to the 24th Asean Summit on Sunday. At the AEC Council Meeting, Asean Economic Ministers will discuss and review the progress made towards the vision of transforming Asean into a single market by 2015. In addition, the meeting will discuss sectoral developments particularly in trade in services and finance. The ministers will also address initiatives to integrate Asean into the global economy, particularly the status of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which aims to broaden and deepen Asean's engagements with its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners though a wider regional FTA. Lim will be accompanied by officials from MTI. -- BERNAMA