PROPOSALS TO HASTEN ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY

By Arul Rajoo


HUA HIN, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- There has been suggestions within the Asean
trade and economic ministers to bring forward the Asean Economic Community (AEC)
plan from the set date of 2015 in view of the protectionism measures in some
part of the world due to the global economic slowdown.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu, however, said Asean has to be
realistic about the idea of speeding up the process.

"First, we have to get the business sectors involved and assess our report
card on our progress," he told a press conference after chairing the Asean
Economic Council meeting at the 14th Asean Summit here Friday.

Instead, Korbsak said the ministers need to look at what happens in the next
two years before deciding whether to hasten the process.

The trade and economic ministers attending the Summit would be signing
several agreements that would form an important basis in moving Asean towards
the AEC by 2015, with the free movement of goods, service, investment and
skilled labour.

Korbsak said the ministers also want to send strong signal to countries
dishing out stimulus packages not to resort to protectionism.

-- BERNAMA