AEC should be seen as a work in progress
It is only from 2003 that Asean economies started their journey towards the AEC. Some promises have been met, but major challenges remain.
AS the Asean Economic Community's (AEC) 2015 deadline approaches, there are more detractors than supporters. The majority seems to feel that the initiative's deliverables - namely, an integrated production space with free movement of goods, services, and skilled labour - will not be achieved by December 2015.
This broad statement has some merit. But we must ask, "What was the real definition of economic community, when Asean decided to form an AEC?" Even if we go with the notion of "Asean cannot deliver on AEC", how far is Asean, as an organisation, accountable for that? And can AEC alone be responsible for policy changes in domestic economy, and hence the possible negative fallouts? To answer these questions, I will attempt to explain five crucial facts about Asean economic cooperation. This is important, as regardless of any criticism Asean will announce the attainment of the AEC on Dec 31, 2015.
Fact one: The AEC was not developed on the basis of the European Union (EU) model, though there are some learning experiences to be gleaned from this process.
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Columns
‘Competition for talent’ a poor excuse to keep key executives’ pay under wraps
OCBC should put its properties into a Reit and distribute the trust’s units to shareholders
Why a stronger US dollar is dangerous
An overstimulated US economy is asking for trouble
Too many property agents? Cap commissions on home sales
Time to study broadening of private market access