HARMONISATION OF STANDARDS AND HUMAN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AMONG ISSUES AT ASEAN DIALOGUE

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- The harmonisation of standards and human
skills development are among issues to be submitted by the private
sector at the meeting Saturday with Asean and Japan economic ministers in a bid
to further enhance the economic relationship with the regional grouping.

The ministerial-level dialogue with the Federation of Japanese Chambers of
Commerce and Industry in Asean (FJCCIA) will be co-chaired by Indonesia's Trade
Minister Dr Mari Elka Pangestu and Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister,
Banri Kaieda.

Pangestu is also the current chairman of the Asean Economic Ministers (AEM).

Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia chief
executive, Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin said at present, the harmonisation of
standards within Asean was the main focus of the Japanese as well as
the private sector of all the member countries.

"The private sector is basically asking for the Asean governments to make
the grouping an efficient production base and a single market with minimum
barriers.

"This is so that are more goods for production and export. Basically, they
are looking at ways as to how Asean can be better integrated," she told Bernama,
ahead of the triparte-dialogue in conjunction with the FJCCIA's two-day annual
dialogue which began Friday.

Mahani will present the outcome of the industry dialogue yesterday. It will
outline some of the issues faced by the industry players, especially in the four
critical sectors of electrical and electronics (E&E), the agro-based industry,
automotive and small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs).

About 140 players attended the industry dialogue which was held specially
for the FJCCIA's dialogue.

During the triparte-dialogue this morning, the Asean economic ministers and
Japan will also formulate short and long term measures to tackles issues
revolving around private sector, especially moving towards an Asean Economic
Community (AEC) by 2015.

This is the first time Asean economic ministers are meeting with Japanese
businessmen directly to address their concerns as they recognise the importance
of Japan's contributions to Asean's growth.

Japan, an active dialogue partner of Asean, has always been the top-ranked
source of foreign direct investments to the region, pouring in US$5.2 billion in
2009.

Apart from the ministerial-level dialogue, there will also be bilateral
meetings held concurrently.

Minister of International Trade and Industry Mustapa Mohamed will
hold two bilateral meetings with Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade
Nguyen Cam Tu and Japan's Kaieda later Saturday.

-- BERNAMA