Singapore - Leaders of the Association of South-East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) Tuesday adopted a blueprint aiming to transform the
region of 570 million people into a European Union-style economic
community by 2015.
They vowed to 'abide by and implement' the ASEAN Economic
Community Blueprint that would eliminate trade barriers for the flow
of goods, services and people within the 10-member regional bloc.
'A single market for goods and services will facilitate the
development of production networks in the region,' they said in a
declaration, adding it will 'enhance ASEAN's capacity to serve as a
global production centre or as a part of the global supply chain.'
The leaders were meeting in Singapore, where they also signed a
landmark charter that commits ASEAN to upholding democracy and human
rights but lacks any enforcement and compliance mechanisms.
Observers noted that the economic blueprint would be difficult to
implement for all ASEAN members considering the diverse levels of
development.
'It's a little bit too ambitious,' said Chris Roberts of
Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. 'Given the
gap in economic development, it's a little too much to hope for an
integrated economic community in say seven years.'
But analysts stressed that it was an important step for ASEAN to
commit to a roadmap.
'The ASEAN economic blueprint has more measures that will have an
impact on the next 10 to 15 years than the ASEAN charter because
economically, the region has to be more integrated in order to be
able to compete with China as well as India, and to stay relevant,'
said Tobias Rettig, a political professor at the Singapore Management
University.
Under the blueprint, restrictions on trade in services for such
industries as air transport, health care and tourism among ASEAN will
be substantially removed by 2010. Trade barriers in logistics
services are scheduled to be removed by 2013, while all other
industries will be liberalized by 2015.
ASEAN will also relax restrictions on capital flows.
'A free and open investment regime is key to enhancing ASEAN's
competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment as well as
intra-ASEAN investment,' the roadmap said. 'Sustained inflow of new
investments and reinvestments will promote and ensure development of
ASEAN economies.'
The blueprint also stressed the need for greater cooperation in
developing land, sea and air transport links within ASEAN - which
consists of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
'An efficient, secure and integrated transport network in ASEAN is
vital for realizing the full potential of the ASEAN free trade area,'
it said.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
USA
Your Talkback on this Story