ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint Research Articles

Regionalism in Services: A Study of ASEAN

AbstractCan regionalism do what multilateralism has so far failed to do – promote greater openness of services markets? While previous research has pointed to the wider and deeper legal commitments under regional agreements as proof that it can, no previous study has assessed the impact of such agreements on applied policies. This paper focuses on the ASEAN region, where regional integration of services markets has been linked to the thriving regional supply chains. Drawing upon surveys in 2008 and 2012 of applied policies in the key services sectors of ASEAN countries, we assess the impact of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and the ambitious ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint, which envisages integrated services markets by 2015. We find that ASEAN is not integrating faster internally than vis‐à‐vis the rest of the world: policies applied to trade with other ASEAN countries are virtually the same as those applied to trade with rest of the world. Moreover, the recent commitments scheduled under AFAS have not produced significant liberalisation and, in a few instances, services trade policy has actually become more restrictive. The two exceptions are in areas that are not on the multilateral negotiating agenda: steps have been taken towards creating regional open skies in air transport, and a few mutual recognition agreements have been negotiated in professional services. These findings suggest that regional negotiations add most value when focused on areas that are not being addressed multilaterally.

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC): Myths and Realities

ASEAN is considered one of the most successful economic regions, because it managed to dismantle many of the tariff barriers among the ten member states. Its more ambitious goal, however—of becoming not only a single trade area, but also a single production base by the year 2015—appears elusive. The investment liberalization goals stipulated in the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint, a roadmap for regional economic integration, is meek, indicating unwillingness of member states to open up their cosseted and, at times, lucrative, service sectors. Moreover, current commitments of member states do not even match up with such goals. To be able to establish a regional production base, member states will have to stand up against local interest groups that benefit from the status quo, be they large domestic state and private companies operating in key service sectors such as telecommunications, energy and finance, or professional councils or professional associations that would like to reserve jobs exclusively for their members. If not, the region will certainly gradually but surely lose its economic flair.

ASEAN regional cooperation on competition policy

ASEAN member states intend to establish the ASEAN Community by 2015. A key component of this goal is the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The AEC Blueprint was initiated to facilitate and monitor the implementation of the AEC during the period 2008–2015. Competition policy will play an important role in the achievement of the AEC. There has been significant progress in regional cooperation to achieve the competition policy targets listed in the AEC Blueprint. Even though only half of ASEAN member states (AMSs) have implemented competition laws, regional cooperation in this area has been fairly strong. The main emphasis has been on publishing regional guidelines and a handbook on competition policy in ASEAN as well as capacity building activities. There needs to be a renewed impetus to implement national competition laws in AMSs that have not done so. There also remain significant opportunities for enforcement cooperation and pooling of resources for capacity building in competition policy in the region.

Factors Influencing to Behavioral Competency for Competitiveness and Success of Thai - Malaysia Border Trade Entrepreneurs to Support AEC

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors related to behavioral competencies in order to develop a conceptual framework for competitiveness and success of Thai - Malaysia border trade entrepreneurs to support the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). This study was conducted by using a literature review and document analysis. The results indicated that characteristics of entrepreneurs factor, transformational leadership factor, behavioral competencies factor and plan southern border provinces factor had a direct relationship with competitive advantage factor. Besides, characteristics of entrepreneurs factor, transformational leadership factor and plan southern border provinces factor had an indirect relationship with competitive advantage factor through behavioral competencies factor. AEC blueprint factor had an indirect relationship with competitive advantage factor through plan southern border provinces factor. And competitive advantage factor had a direct relationship with successful factor.

Meningkatkan Daya Saing Pelaku Usaha Indonesia Menghadapi ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015

Asean Economic Community (AEC) is a part of ASEAN cooperation skim agreed by ASEAN member countries as other form of ASEAN’s cooperation on ecomic integration such as ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), which was established during ASEAN Summit Meeting in Bali, Indonesia, year 2003. The objective of this research is to asess and examine how Indonesia could achieve the sucesessfull implementation of AEC in 2015?. How far the progress on the implementation AEC Blue print, which has been implemented since last year ? How far Indonesia’s competitively Strength compare to the other ASEAN member countries in implementing the principles and other arrangements agreed in the AEC. The method of this research using qualitative and descriptive analitical approaches. The results of this research is come up with the findings and the recomendations. The research found that the AEC was considered usefull to speed up the implementation of economic integration among the member of ASEAN countries by facilitating cross boder movement of trade and investment; business sevices and other services; technology; capital; people and labour mobility etc. Indonesia faced some competitiveness obtacles namely: complicated bureucratic procedures in providing business licenses; man power’s competencies; high cost of money; poor infrastructure etc. The research recommend to the Government of Indonesia should be consistence in plementing the so called “AEC blue print based on three main programs these are encourage to reach real implementation of common market; establish ASEAN competitive economic zone; and balance economic development among the member countries. The research aslo recommend the goverment of Indonesia should enhance and promote the competitiveness of small and medium skill industry; simplify beureaucratic procedures, build integrated infrastructures as well as prevent and combat corruption. Kata kunci : ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), AEC Blueprint

STRATEGI KEBIJAKAN PERLINDUNGAN INVESTOR LOKAL DALAM ARUS BEBAS ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY

ASEAN countries will enter the era of free trade through the agreement of Asean Economic Community Blueprint. This agreement will open the free flow of trade in goods, services, investment, capital and skilled labor. Regarding the investment, in particularly, all countries will apply the principles of the National Treatment and Most Favoured Nation. It means that all countries will give equal treatment between foreign investors and local investors. This poses a problem for Indonesian government on policy strategies to provide protection for local investors. This paper will use the normative juridical method for the discussion. However, to complete the analysis, empirical facts will also be carried to sharpen the argument. Based on the normative analysis, the result showed that Indonesian government has taken various strategies throughout legal instruments related to the investment law. Local investor protection is conducted by providing limits to the field of businesses, investment and divestment requirements for foreign investors. Keywords : policy strategies, asean economic community, local investor protection