STUDY LACK OF SUCCESS OF ASEAN GROWTH TRIANGLE PROJECTS - DEPUTY FM

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- There is a need for in-depth studies to
identify the cause behind the lack of success of the various Asean Growth
Triangle (GT) projects, and find a solution, said Deputy Foreign Minister
Senator A. Kohilan Pillay.

He said the studies were vital to make the projects more appealing to the
Asean business community.

"The scope of incentives being offered within the existing growth triangles
needs to be re-visited to keep the community abreast with new developments to
allow them to remain competitive and relevant," he said in his opening remarks
at the 'Asean Anniversary Forum: Building a People-Oriented Asean Community'
at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations here Tuesday.

Asean GT involves Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore (IMS-GT),
Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand (IMS-GT), Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East
Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and Mekong sub-region.

Growth triangles are formed to enhance economic competitivenes with
exploitation of comparative advantage, economics of scale and clustering.

On the challenges involved in building a people-oriented Asean community,
Kohilan said it included narrowing the development gap among Asean member
states.

"True regional integration will require all countries to achieve a minimum
standard of economic and social development which will benefit all sectors of
society," he added.

Besides that, Kohilan said that Asean member countries, particularly at
grassroots-level, lacked awareness on Asean, including what Asean meant, its
history and also achievements for the past 43 years.

"Existing public diplomacy road shows targeting schools and communities of
Asean member states are neither consistent nor adequate due to financial,
structural and other constraints," he added.

Meanwhile, Kohilan hoped Asean member states would give prominence to
the activities and programmes that had direct impact on the people to enable
them to see the relevance of Asean in their daily lives.
-- BERNAMA


Attachments:
untitled-[2] 5.1 k [ text/html ] Download | View
Delete & Prev | Delete & Next