CHAPTER 1 - Introduction

ASEAN, a bloc of 10 nations with an aggregate economic size of USD 2.3 trillion, is
preparing to go throgh profon! changes. Alrea!" to!a", ASEAN is the 3r! pillar of
growth in Asia in a!!ition to #hina an! $n!ia, with a%erage &D' growth o%er the past
1( "ears at aron! )* p.a.
+he region,s prospects will be mch enhance! b" an ambitios integration effort
which see-s to achie%e a single mar-et an! pro!ction base, incl!ing higher mobilit"
of labor an! capital within the region, an! promote closer lin-ages with other -e"
economies sch as #hina, .apan, Soth /orea, $n!ia, Astralia an! New 0ealan!.
E1citing pro2ects to increase an! impro%e connecti%it" in trans3port, commnication
an! $+ networ-s are in the ma-ing. 4inancial flows within the region are set to
increase, an! initiati%es sch as a pan3ASEAN stoc- e1change collaboration are
ta-ing place alrea!".
+he ASEAN Economic #ommnit",s en%isage! lanch at the en! of 201( will not
onl" is an integration milestone bt a potential game changer for ASEAN. +he bloc,s
!i%ersit" 5 ranging from a!%ance! economies li-e Singapore to !e%eloping contries
li-e 6"anmar 5 col! be a sorce of s"nergies, bringing the capital an! -now3how of
the more matre economies together with the competiti%e costs an! abn!ant labor
an! resorces of the less3!e%elope! member contries. +o be sre, there will be
winners an! losers in the process, bt o%erall, we e1pect AE# to bring abot a net
positi%e contribtion to ASEAN,s economies an! its people.
ASEAN 7Association of Sotheast Asian Nations8, establishe! in 19):, is a large
economic bloc in Asia. #omprising 10 contries 5 ;rnei Darssalam, #ambo!ia,
$n!onesia, <ao 'eople,s Democratic =epblic, 6ala"sia, 6"anmar, 'hilippines,
Singapore, +hailan! an! >ietnam 5, the region boasts a poplation of o%er )00
million 7chart 18, roghl" half that of #hina,s or $n!ia,s an! aron! 9* of the worl!,s
total. ASEAN,s economic weight is also sbstantial, with a &D' of USD 2.3 trillion
in 2012 5 aron! 30* the size of #hina,s, roghl" the same size as that of the U/ an!
2(* larger than $n!ia,s. $ts &D' acconts for 3* of the worl!,s total1.
1
ASEAN is a mi!!le3income region. Nominal per3capita &D' of the fi%e ASEAN
fon!ing members 7or ASEAN3(? $n!onesia, 6ala"sia, 'hilippines, Singapore an!
+hailan!8 was USD @,(00 in 2011, slightl" lower than #hina,s USD (,@00. +a-ing
into accont the 10 members, ASEAN,s &D' per capita was USD 3,)00. $ncome
le%els among ASEAN member contries are hgel" !i%erse. #ontries sch as
Singapore an! ;rnei en2o" a %er" high &D' per capita at aron! USD @9,000 an!
USD 39,000, respecti%el", on par with the top tier of !e%elope!3mar-et economies. $n
contrast, 6"anmar an! #ambo!ia ha%e a &D' per capita of 2st below USD 900.
ASEAN growth was %er" robst o%er the past two !eca!es, e1cept aron! the time of
the Asian financial crisis in 199:39A an! the global financial crisis in 200A309. 4or the
ne1t few "ears we e1pect ASEAN,s annal real &D' growth to reach aron! )*
7chart 28.
2
ASEAN? A region in nee! of in%estment
Dring the 1990s, the in%estmentB&D' ratio was 30*3@0* in the ASEAN3(
contries, e1cept in the 'hilippines. $n%estment e1cee!e! !omestic sa%ings, as
manifeste! in sbstantial crrent3accont !eficits, fn!e! to a large e1tent b" Chot
mone"D. +his change! abrptl" after the 199: financial crisis 7chart 38. #rrent3
accont balances trne! to srpls mostl" at the e1pense of !omestic in%estment,
which !roppe! to 20*330* of &D'.
3
$n comparison, #hina an! $n!ia were mch less affecte! b" the Asian financial crisis,
an! their !omestic in%estment acti%it" remaine! strong. $n the case of #hina, a %ast
pool of !omestic sa%ings an! hge 4D$ inflows has fn!e! in%estment. $n!ia, b"
contrast, !oes not ha%e sfficient !omestic sa%ings to fn! its in%estment nee!s, bt it
manage! to increase 4D$ inflows almost eightfol! from 200332011.
Ea%ing a!2ste! its e1ternal balances an! become an Ce1cess sa%ingsD region,
ASEAN now nee!s to increase !omestic in%estment in or!er to lift its potential rate of
growth. Among other things, ASEAN contries wol! benefit from sa%ings being
channele! to intra3regional in%estment. +o be sre, this is alrea!" happening? intra3
ASEAN 4D$ rose from 1@* of total 4D$ !ring 2002309 to 1A.(* in 2009311 7chart
@8, o%erta-ing the EU,s share of 1:*. Fith the EU still beset b" the Erozone !ebt
crisis, the role of intra3ASEAN 4D$ flows is e%en more significant. +he share of other
tra!itional sorces of 4D$ to ASEAN sch as .apan 712*8 an! the US 710*8 also saw
a !ecline !ring 200932011.
A case for frther facilitating in%estment flows
$n%estment liberalisation an! the promotion of intra3regional flows also ser%e to
enhance the region,s attracti%eness to global in%estors. 4or e1ample in the case of the
EU, the formation of the Single 6ar-et le! to the gra!al increase in its share of
global 4D$ inflows from 3@* !ring 19A031992 to @1* !ring 19933200:2. $n
ASEAN, earl" in%estment liberalisation measres were effecti%e bt the" nee! to be
spplemente! with new measres to maintain the region,s attracti%eness. +he 1992
4
ASEAN $n%estment Agreement 7A$A8 an! ASEAN $n%estment &arantee Agreement
7$&A8 were effecti%e in increasing global inflows into ASEAN ntil the Asian
financial crisis. $ts share of global 4D$ inflows rose to aron! :* !ring 19923199:
from (* !ring 19A031991. $t then saw a sli!e to @* !ring 199A32009, which,
among other factors, might sggest a lac- of impro%ement in the regionGs in%estment
framewor-. $n 2009, a new an! enhance! ASEAN #omprehensi%e $n%estment
Agreement 7A#$A8 replace! the pre%ios A$A an! $&A framewor-s. $n!stries
incl!ing manfactring, agricltre, fisher", forestr" H mining an! Iarr"ing are
now reIire! to grant national treatment to foreign in%estors. 4ollowing the re%ampe!
agreements, the region saw a 2mp in its share of global 4D$ inflows to aron! :.(3
A* in 2010311.
$ntra3regional tra!e booste! b" the most open ASEAN contries
ASEAN is a sbstantial tra!ing bloc with a merchan!ise tra!e %ale of USD 2.@
trillion 7as of 20118, 2(* of which is intra3regional tra!e. $ntra3ASEAN e1ports
amonte! to USD 32A bn in 2011, 2)* of total e1ports. $ntra3ASEAN imports
totalle! USD 2:1 bn, or 2@* of total imports.
ASEAN,s tra!e openness is high, at 110* of &D'. Among its members, Singapore
has the b" far highest tra!e3to3&D' ratio, at close to 300* of &D'. 6ala"sia an!
+hailan! ha%e tra!e3to3&D' ratios wa" abo%e 100* 7chart (8. All three contries are
tightl" integrate! into regional an! global manfactring sppl" chains. 6oreo%er,
the" ha%e high stan!ar!s in tra!e logistics? the Forl! ;an-,s <ogistics 'erformance
5
$n!e1 7<'$8 places Singapore, 6ala"sia an! +hailan! at the top of ASEAN 7chart )8.
$t is ths not b" co3inci!ence that these contries ha%e been the most acti%e
contribtors to intra3regional tra!e3. >ietnam, #ambo!ia, ;rnei an! <aos ha%e seen
their tra!e3to3&D' ratios rise strongl" in recent "ears to aron! 100* of &D',
in!icating an increasing openness, bt the contribtion to intra3regional tra!e remains
small. $n!onesia, 'hilippines an! 6"anmar still ha%e a relati%el" low tra!e3to3&D'
ratio of below 100*, sggesting plent" of hea!room to increase openness.
#hina has become ASEAN,s main tra!ing partner
$ntegration efforts an! global !e%elopments ha%e shifte! the pattern of ASEAN
contries, international tra!e. +he share of the bloc,s tra!e with the US, the EU an!
.apan has !ecline! mar-e!l" o%er the past two !eca!es or so. $n 2011, ASEAN tra!e
with the US acconte! for A.(* of the total 7%s. 1A* in 19938, with the EU32: for
10.)* 71(* in 19938, an! with .apan for 10.3* 720* in 19938 7chart :8. #hina has
emerge! as the No. 1 tra!ing partner for ASEAN, with its share rising to 12* in 2011
%s. 2st 2* in 1993. +he rise in ASEAN3#hina tra!e pro%i!es e%i!ence of the role of
#hina in the Asian sppl"3chain networ-s. $n 2011, 11* of ASEAN,s e1ports went to
#hina an! 13* of ASEAN imports came from #hina. ASEAN consistentl" ran a tra!e
srpls with the US an! EU bt a tra!e !eficit with #hina, sggesting a sppl"3chain
pattern in which ASEAN imports parts from #hina an! e1ports the final pro!ct to the
US an! the EU.
6
+ra!e patterns reflect pro!ct specialisation an! rising !omestic consmption in
ASEAN contries
+he ma2orit" of the region,s tra!e reflects the specialisation in electronics, hea%"
machiner", %ehicles an! parts, chemicals, plastics an! processe! raw materials sch as
oil an! rbber 7chart 98. ASEAN e1ports to #hina incl!e commo!ities sch as
rbber, oil, coal an! palm oil in a!!ition to electronic integrate! circits 7$#s8.
E1ports to the US an! EU are !ominate! b" electronics an! machiner" an! natral
rbber. +he tra!e pattern reflects of the significance the US an! the EU as final
consmers of electronic pro!cts an! #hina,s important role as a commo!ities import
mar-et.
7
$ntra3ASEAN tra!e has seen an ptren! in tra!e of final consmer goo!s, which is an
encoraging sign of the growing importance of !omestic consmption within
ASEAN. Accor!ing to the $64, Cthe increasing role of intraregional tra!e in final
consmption goo!s, together with a large !omestic mar-et, especiall" in $n!onesia,
appears to pro%i!e the region with a potential sorce of resilience against global
!eman! shoc-sD
1.2 What is the ASEAN Economic Community?
ASEAN Economic #ommnit" 7AE#8 is the en!3goal of the bloc,s economic
integration( as espose! in its C>ision 2020D. +he latter was articlate! in 199: b"
the ASEAN hea!s of state, in the aftermath of the erption of the Asian financial
crisis, see-ing to create a stable, prosperos an! highl" competiti%e economic region.
+he !ecision to establish the ASEAN Economic #ommnit" was affirme! b" the
8
Declaration of ASEAN #oncor! $$ in ;ali, $n!onesia, in 2003. +he Declaration came
not long after #hina 2oine! the F+J an! $n!ia emerge! as an in%estment an! offshore
location for mltinational corporations. +he rise of the emerging mar-ets, in particlar
the ;=$#, appears to ha%e gi%en ASEAN lea!ers the impets to !o something to -eep
the region n!er in%estors, ra!ar.
+he lanch of AE# is crrentl" planne! for the en! of 201(. +he start !ate was
initiall" set for 2020 an! sbseIentl" mo%e! forwar! to .anar" 1, 201(. $n
No%ember 2012, ASEAN lea!ers agree! to mo%e the lanch !ate again to December
31, 201( in or!er to gi%e member states more time to prepare for necessar" reglator"
changes.
AEC !ue"rint#s $ision and %oa!s
AE# was frther booste! b" the a!option of the AE# ;leprint in Singapore in 200:.
+he ;leprint stiplates the %ision, goals an! strategic sche!le, en%isaging for -e"
characteristics for the Economic #ommnit"?
18 A single mar-et an! pro!ction base. $n short, barriers to tra!e in goo!s an!
ser%ices will be broght !own or -ept to a minimm. 4lows of in%estment, capital an!
s-ille! labor will be facilitate! an! co3operation in sectors !esignate! as priorit"
integration sectors will be promote!.
K 4ree flow of goo!s
K 4ree flow of ser%ices
K 4ree flow of in%estment
K 4reer flow of capital
K 4ree flow of s-ille! labor
K 'riorit" integration sectors
K 4oo!, agricltre an! forestr"
28 A competiti%e economic region. +o promote ASEAN as a competiti%e economic
bloc, it is important to ha%e a regional stan!ar! in tra!e polic" an! for the bsiness3
operating en%ironment. +his pillar see-s to a!!ress the following areas to enhance the
region,s competiti%eness to in%estors?
9
K #ompetition polic"
K #onsmer protection
K $ntellectal propert" rights
K $nfrastrctre !e%elopment
K +a1ation
K E3commerce
38 EIitable economic !e%elopment. ASEAN member states will stri%e to le%el the
pla"ing fiel! as mch as possible. $n this regar!, two areas will be n!er focs?
K S6E !e%elopment
K $nitiati%e for ASEAN integration 7$A$8. $ts ob2ecti%es are to narrow the
!e%elopment gap between members an! to accelerate economic integration of the
newer members, namel" #ambo!ia, <ao 'D=, 6"anmar an! >ietnam 7#<6>8
@8 $ntegration into the global econom". ASEAN stri%es to integrate itself better as a
bloc into the global sppl" chain. 4or this prpose, two main lines of action are
prse!?
K #oherent approach regar!ing e1ternal economic relations
K Enhance! participation in global sppl" networ-s
AEC or%anisation and main a%reements
ASEAN progress ths far has been !ri%en b" consenss base! on the agreements b"
the Eea!s of State an! sbseIent action plans. No special organisation has been set
p to spport the establishment of the AE#. +he ASEAN Economic 6inisters 7AE68
grop is accontable for the o%erall implementation of the ;leprint. =ele%ant
ASEAN sectoral bo!ies are responsible for the implementation of programmes an!
measres. At the national le%el, go%ernment agencies are responsible for o%erseeing
implementation an! preparing more !etaile! action plans. 'artnerships with the
pri%ate sector, in!str" associations an! the commnit" in general are rge! to ensre
participation of all sta-ehol!ers. +he Secretar"3&eneral of ASEAN) is responsible for
reporting the progress of AE# to ASEAN ministerial meetings an! the ASEAN
Smmit.
10
+o !ate there ha%e been nmeros agreements in the rn3p to the AE#. Among the
-e" agreements are?
a8 &aster P!an on ASEAN Connecti$ity 'chart 11() +he plan stri%es to ma-e
pro!ction an! !istribtion networ-s in ASEAN !eeper, wi!er, an! more entrenche!
in the East Asian an! global econom". $t pro%i!es a 33pronge! strateg"?
K 'h"sical connecti%it" throgh enhance! ph"sical infrastrctre !e%elopmentL
K $nstittional connecti%it" throgh effecti%e instittions, mechanisms an! processesL
K 'eople3to3people connecti%it" b" pro%i!ing e!cation, promoting torism, etc.
E1amples of pro2ects to enhance ASEAN connecti%it" incl!e the ASEAN Eighwa"
Networ- an! high3spee! railwa"s between 6ala"sia an! Singapore. +he ASEAN
$nfrastrctre 4n! was establishe! with the Asian De%elopment ;an- to fn!
11
ph"sical infrastrctre pro2ects in ASEAN.
b8 ASEAN Trade in *oods A%reement 'ATI*A() $ts -e" ob2ecti%e is to achie%e a
free flow of goo!s in ASEAN as a means to establish a single mar-et an! pro!ction
base. A+$&A see-s to eliminate non3tariff barriers an! implement the cross3bor!er
ASEAN +ra!e 4acilitation For- 'rogram 7A+4F'8. +he A+4F' in trn see-s to
simplif" the rles of origin, harmonise pro!ct stan!ar!s an! reglations an! carr"
ot cstoms integration. +he ASEAN Single Fin!ow 7ASF8 is inten!e! to streamline
an! s"nchronise the processing of !ata an! information, creating a single !ecision3
ma-ing point for cstoms release an! clearance. Sccessfl implementation of
A+4F' will re!ce transaction costs an! time, accelerating the mo%ement of goo!s
within ASEAN an! facilitating access to raw materials, labor an! technolog" from
%arios parts of the region.
+here are nmeros agreements with regar! to other areas of cooperation sch as
in%estment, capital mar-ets, a%iation, etc. $mplementation of the agreements is !one
b" consenssL there is no enforcement of penalt" for non3compliance.
Pro%ress re"ort) Ho+ ,ar has AEC ad$anced?
+he Economic =esearch $nstitte con!cte! a 6i!3+erm =e%iew of the
implementation of the AE# ;leprint for ASEAN an! East Asia 7E=$A8. +he 6i!3
+erm =e%iew,s E1ecti%e Smmar" was pblishe! in Jctober 2012: 7chart 128
'rogress with the implementation of AE# measres is note! in the following areas?
K <owering of goo!s tariffs. +his is a contination of the ASEAN 4ree +ra!e Area
7A4+A8 Agreement intro!ce! in 1992, which ha! soght to achie%e #ommon
Effecti%e 'referential +ariffs 7#E'+8, gra!all" re!cing an! eliminating tariffs to 03
(* for each member contr". #E'+ rates are %irtall" zero in ASEAN3( an! ;rnei.
4or #ambo!ia, <aos, 6"anmar an! >ietnam the #E'+ a%erage rate was 2.)* in
2010.
K +ra!e facilitation. +he ASEAN3( contries ha%e achie%e! li%e implementation of
the National Single Fin!owsA, althogh a fll rollot is still pen!ing. ;rnei an!
>ietnam are in an a!%ance! stage towar! li%e implementation b" 201(.
12
$n%estment liberalisation 7goo!s sector8. #ommitments in the goo!s sector 5 n!er the
ASEAN #omprehensi%e $n%estment Agreement 7A#$A8 5 are alrea!" liberal in most
ASEAN member contries, accor!ing to the bench3mar- of :0* permissible foreign
ownership.
4ree +ra!e Agreements 3 4i%e CASEANM1D 4+As were signe!, with #hina, .apan,
/orea, $n!ia an! AstraliaBNew 0ealan!. Negotiations are ongoing for ser%ices an!
in%estment agreements with .apan an! $n!ia.
Air transport. A nmber of air transport agreements ha%e been signe! n!er the
ASEAN3N formla. +he ASEAN3N formla gi%es the fle1ibilit" for ASEAN member
states to sign agreements with one another withot ha%ing to incl!e members which
are not "et rea!". +he sccess of the air transport agreements gi%es rise to hopes that
the ASEAN3N formla col! be replicate! to forge forwar! other parts of the regional
agen!a.
&onetary coo"eration.
+he signing an! implementation of the #hiangmai initiati%e is a notable !e%elopment.
Signator" contries agree to pool their foreign3e1change resorces to pro%i!e liIi!it"
to member contries in times of emergenc" throgh bilateral swap arrangements. +he
#hiangmai $nitiati%e is bt one e1ample of instittional mechanisms an!
arrangements at the ASEANM3 le%el that increase the region,s abilit" to respon! to
crisis.
+he establishment of the ASEANM3 6acroeconomic =esearch Jffice also enhances
the region,s sr%eillance an! co3or!ination efforts.
K 4ree flow of s-ille! labor. 6tal =ecognition Arrangements 76=As8 for s-ille!
professionals will co%er : professions? !octor of me!icine, !entist, nrse, engineer,
architect, accontant an! sr%e"or. +he aim is for professional Ialifications in these
fiel!s to be recognise! in other ASEAN member states, facilitating flows of s-ille!
labor within ASEAN. Accor!ing to the 6i!3+erm =e%iew fin!ings, 6=As on
13
engineers an! architects are n!erwa" to fll implementation, with regional an!
national s"stems in place. A few ASEAN contries alrea!" ma!e recommen!ations
for regional accre!itation.
K #apital mar-ets. +he ASEAN E1change, a collaboration of the se%en stoc-
e1changes of ASEAN9, -ic-e! off in September 2012 with the li%e roll3ot of the
ASEAN +ra!ing <in-, connecting ;rsa 6ala"sia an! the Singapore E1change. +he
Stoc- E1change of +hailan! 2oine! in Jctober 2012. +he s"stem crrentl" ses an
electronic or!er roting s"stem that allows bro-ers from the three e1changes to
connect their clients to tra!ing on the e1changes of the other contries. +he potential
for ASEAN capital mar-et collaboration is hge. $n 2010, aggregate gross !omestic
sa%ings of ASEAN nations amonte! to USD )1) billion, with the largest
contribtions coming from $n!onesia, Singapore an! +hailan!. +o facilitate the
mobilit" of sa%ings across national bor!ers, the AE# has pt in place stan!ar!ise!
offering an! !istribtion rles an! !isclosre reIirements, as well as an enhance!
withhol!ing ta1 strctre to attract cross3bor!er in%estors in !ebt paper, with a %iew to
lowering transaction costs an! e1ploiting economies of scale.
ASEAN has establishe! a monitoring mechanism calle! the AE# Scorecar! to ensre
timel" implementation of the AE# initiati%es. +he AE# Scorecar! reports progress
with implementing the %arios AE# measres. Accor!ing to the latest AE# Scorecar!
pblishe! in 6arch 2012, the o%erall score is )A.2 7ot of 1008 7chart 138. Among the
for pillars, 'illar $>, $ntegration into &lobal Econom", has ma!e the most progress,
scoring A(.:. 'illar $, Single 6ar-et an! 'ro!ction ;ase, has the lowest score of
)).(. +he score appears to sggest that challenges with regar! to non3tra!e barriers
remain consi!erable an! ha%e "et to be tac-le! to create a smooth3fnctioning single
mar-et an! pro!ction base.
AE# final lap? =emaining tas-s
$t is now less than three "ears before the e1pecte! AE# lanch at en!3201(. A lot of
wor- remains to be !one to achie%e a cre!ible an! meaningfl start. 'rogress in the
following areas wol! be especiall" helpfl?
K Non3tra!e barriers 7N+;s8 an! non3tariff measres 7N+6s8. Non3tariff barriers
an! non3tariff measres sch as safet" an! health reglations or technical barriers
14
remain obstacles to the free flow of tra!e in both goo!s an! ser%ices. Jne
recommen!ation pt forwar! in the mi!3term re%iew is to a!!ress the non3tra!e
barriers an! non3tariff measres s"stematicall" throgh the set3p of a comprehensi%e
!atabase of N+6s in ASEAN. +he !atabase col! then be the starting point for
member contries to negotiate an! re!ce N+;s an! N+6s in an efficient an!
s"stematic manner.
K +ra!e an! in%estment facilitation. Althogh se%eral contries ha%e starte!
implementing National Single Fin!ows 7NSF8, cstoms an! logistical integration
still has some wa" to go. A wi!e gap still e1ists in terms of the nmber of !a"s nee!e!
to carr" ot e1ports an! imports, with the highest nmber registere! in <aos 7@( !a"s8
an! the lowest in Singapore 73 !a"s8, accor!ing to Forl! ;an- !ata on tra!ing across
bor!ers. 4or e1ample, it wol! be beneficial if ASEAN contries agree! an! accepte!
stan!ar!ise! bsiness processes an! harmonise! !ata for electronic e1change n!er an
ASEAN Single Fin!ow 7see page A8. As for in%estment facilitation, frther process
streamlining an! more inter3agenc" co3operation within each contr" an! among
member states ha%e been recommen!e!.
K S6E !e%elopment. +he corporate sector in man" ASEAN economies is !ominate!
b" large go%ernment3lin-e! companies or mltinational corporations 76N#s8. +he
potential of small an! me!im3size! enterprises is n!ertilise!, often !e to a lac- of
in%estment an! technical -now3how. Eelping S6Es in terms of tra!e an! in%estment
facilitation an! technological !e%elopment wol! ma-e the AE#,s impact on member
contries more far3reaching.
K 'blic3pri%ate sector partnership. +hs far, the pblic impression of AE# is that it
is !ri%en b" the go%ernment sector, which nee!s to be correcte!. Fhile the AE#
concept was !rawn p b" the contries, lea!ers an! the go%ernment has a -e" role in
pro%i!ing a con!ci%e legal an! bsiness en%ironment, AE# sccess !epen!s
crciall" on pri%ate3sector in%ol%ement an! pblic spport. $n this regar!, greater
efforts shol! be ma!e to raise awareness of AE# among the bsiness commnit" to
bring it on boar!. +here shol! be reglar pblic3pri%ate consltation forms for
brainstorming an! strateg" sessions.
15
CHAPTER 2 - CHA--EN*ES
200A mar-e! the @0th anni%ersar" of the fon!ing of the Association of Sotheast
Asian Nations 7ASEAN8. Fhile starting as a loose coalition of !e%eloping contries,
ASEAN is now recognize! as an increasingl" capable regional an! international
pla"er. ASEAN contries, howe%er, face a nmber of internal an! e1ternal
challenges, incl!ing social instabilit" an! regional economic an! militar"
imbalances.
+he ASEAN #harter, which became legall" bin!ing at the en! of 200A, see-e! to
bil! a more effecti%e mechanism for cooperation an! coor!ination among Sotheast
Asian contries to a!!ress the pressres of globalization an! the bil!3p of larger,
non3ASEAN neighbors.
#arnegie ;ei2ing sponsore! an! co3hoste! a polic" !ebate with the $nstitte of Asia3
'acific St!ies, #hinese Aca!em" of Social Sciences 7#ASS8 an! the #enter for
=egional Secrit" St!ies 7#=SS8 to a!!ress the crrent internal an! e1ternal
challenges ASEAN contries face an! the #harter,s implications for alle%iating some
of these problems an! impro%ing regional relations.
'articipants incl!e! Ean 4eng, Dept" Director of the $nstitte of Asia3'acific
Affairs an! the #enter for =egional Secrit" St!iesL #heng .i from the 6inistr" of
4oreign AffairsL Oan ;o from the =esearch #enter of $nternational +ra!e an!
#ommercial #ooperation n!er the 6inistr" of #ommerceL 0hang Negang from the
#hina 6o!ern $nternational =elations =esearch $nstitteL Shen Shishn from the
#hina $nstitte of $nternational St!iesL <i <in from the Aca!em" of 6ilitar"
SciencesL <i Eimin of the #hina 4rien!ship AssociationL an! Niong Fei from the
$nstitte of 4oreign Affairs.
Interna! Cha!!en%esJne of the most serios obstacles to ASEAN integration is
nresol%e! territorial !isptes between member contries. 4orm participants
!obte! that these !isptes will be a!!resse! comprehensi%el" gi%en the historical
relctance of ASEAN contries to !iscss matters the" !escribe as Cinternal affairs.D
ASEAN,s Cconsenss approachD to !ecision3ma-ing, whereb" a contr" can pre%ent
16
the passage of a proposal if it !isagrees with it, is highl" inefficient when tr"ing to
reform the organization. +his !ifficlt" is compon!e! b" the political instabilit" an!
social phea%al within man" of the member contries that ro!e the thir! wa%e of
!emocratization.
E.terna! Cha!!en%es'articipants i!entifie! three e1ternal challenges facing ASEAN?
globalization, regional imbalances, an! a lac- of engagement mechanisms. 6an"
spea-ers conten!e! that ASEAN,s !e%elopment necessaril" carries with it the
!rawbac-s of globalization. 4or instance, rapi! regional !e%elopment has le! to fierce
competition between ASEAN contries. Jthers rge! ASEAN contries alrea!"
in%ol%e! in international ban-ing an! foreign in%estment to strengthen their financial
capabilities to a%oi! meeting the same fate as East Asian contries that were
embroile! in the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. ASEAN contries are also
worrie! that Festern %ales ha%e ero!e! spport for their own %ales.
+he secon! point of insecrit" for ASEAN is its neighbors. +he rise of large
neighboring contries cople! with increase! in%estment in their militaries an!
economies has ma!e ASEAN contries e1tremel" ner%os. $n recent "ears,
American, .apanese, #hinese, an! Astralian interest in Sotheast Asia,s affairs has
also risen, ma-ing them worr" that the" ma" be marginalize!.
+he thir! challenge is ASEAN,s abilit" to cooperate an! coor!inate regionall" an!
internationall". Fhile man" participants !escribe! ASEAN as a passi%e global pla"er
5 one that is often an obser%er rather than an actor in its interactions with the worl! 5
the" also ac-nowle!ge that its engagement capabilities are limite!. ASEAN3initiate!
forms an! smmits are ineffecti%e mechanisms for !ecision3ma-ing becase the"
sall" !o not incl!e global powers.
Sotheast Asia is among the important pillars in Asia,s economic integration whereb"
ASEAN is e1pecte! to gain soli! economic integration from tra!e an! in%estment.
+his wol! mean that ASEAN mst ha%e significant an! positi%e relations in her intra
regional tra!e an! intra regional in%estments. Oet a pre%ios st!" fin!s them to be
significant ne%ertheless ha%ing negati%e relations 7>erico, 20128. &i%en its long3rn
economic integration ob2ecti%e, ASEAN mst trn this relation into one that is
17
significant an! positi%e. +his will reIire an economic con%ergence b" which an
eIi%alent le%el of pla"ing fiel! within its member states.
Economic con%ergence is a necessar" con!ition for a soli! regional economic
integration.
$t will mo%e ASEAN,s economic integration stage from an intra regional tra!e to that
of an intra regional in%estment. Eowe%er, ASEAN still faces hge economic gaps
between its ASEAN3) an! ASEAN3@ as well as within the grops themsel%es. +his
economic !i%ergence becomes a ma2or sorce of as"mmetric information in the
ASEAN econom".
Among one of the sefl tools to pro%e this !i%ergence is the Pgra%it" mo!el of tra!e,
7+inbergen, 19)2, An!erson, 19:9, Eelpman an! /rgman, 19A(8. +he mo!el, which
was inspire! b" Newton,s <aw of gra%it", !escribes that among the significant factors
in economic integration process are economic size 7&D'8 an! economic le%el 7&N$
per capita8. Utilizing this mo!el, in terms of economic size, ASEAN mst !eal with
economic biases towar!s $n!onesia,s econom" as her nominal &D' is at aron! @0*
of total ASEAN,s nominal &D', ma-ing it too !ominant.
$n 2011, $n!onesia,s nominal economic size 7&D'8 is aron! USQ A@: billion, mch
larger than +hailan! at USQ 3@) billion, 6ala"sia at USQ 2AA billion, an! Singapore
at USQ 2@0 billion. $n!onesia,s nominal &D' size is ran-e! 1)in the worl!, ma-ing
her the onl" ASEAN member in the &20 grop.
Jn the other han!, in terms of economic le%el, ASEAN,s economic gra%it" !irection
is biase! towar!s Singapore,s econom".
Accor!ing to the Forl! ;an-,s atlas metho! 7&ross National $ncomeB&N$ per capita
per "ear8, the circmstance shows the opposite of the prece!ing figres. Using 2011
!ata, among those for contries, the highest income per capita belongs to the lowest
economic size! contr", which is Singapore. Singapore,s &N$ per capita per "ear is
USQ @2,930 that is mch higher than 6ala"sia at USQ A,::0, +hailan! at USQ @,@@0,
while the lowest le%el among these contries is the highest economic size! contr",
which is $n!onesia at USQ 2,9@0.
18
+hese two figres show that within its member states, ASEAN has a large economic
size! contr" 5 $n!onesia3 that has a low economic le%el an! also has a high
economic le%el contr" 5 Singapore 5 "et is a low economic size. Eence ASEAN,s
economic power seems to resemble a P!ont,, lac-ing a contr" that has the
characteristics of ha%ing both a large economic size an! high economic le%el. +his is
in contrast to the EU,s e1perience with &erman", a high income contr" that also has
a large economic size of &D', poplation an! geographic proportions. +his P!ont,3
shape is a ma2or challenge for ASEAN in obtaining a soli! intra3regional tra!e an!
in%estment.
2.2 What does ASEAN need to do to o$ercome this economic inte%ration
disad$anta%e?
4rom the mar-et3!ri%en strateg", ASEAN will gain her economic integration
a!%antage when her largest economic3size member attains high3income le%el. +his
wol! mean when $n!onesia becomes a !e%elope! contr". Among the references for
this pro2ection is P>ision 2030,, where $n!onesia is pre!icte! to become a !e%elope!
contr" in "ear 2030 with an income per capita per "ear abo%e USQ 1A,000.
&i%en this circmstance, frthermore, sing the EU,s e1perience, if the ASEAN
Economic #ommnit" 7AE#8 of 201( is similar to the Eropean Economic
#ommnit" 7EE#8 of 19): then ASEAN is forecaste! to complete her comprehensi%e
economic integration in "ear 20(0. +he latter is n!er the assmption that ASEAN
will follow EU,s time3frame which too- aron! 3( "ears to mo%e from EE# of 19):
to Ero as a single crrenc" in 2002.
As from the go%ernment inter%ention strateg", ASEAN col! tilize her wi!e
regionalism strateg" to increase its intra regional in%estment. Different from the
#stom Union 7#U8 in Erope, ASEAN a!opts an Popen an! soft, regionalism
principle. $n its Popen, regionalism principle, ASEAN implements the 4ree +ra!e Area
74+A8 at which the regional economic instittion !oes not reglate e1ternal tariff
between member state an! non3member state enabling each member state to ha%e
P!irect bilateral tra!e agreements, with non3member states. +his gi%es benefits to non3
member states as the" can still ha%e a free tra!e relation with the member states of
ASEAN withot being a member themsel%es.
19
$n its Psoft, regionalism principle, ASEAN implements a Pnon3legal bin!ing, principle
withot a spranational bo!". ;oth the,open an! soft, regionalism principles ma-es
PASEAN3wi!e framewor-s, sch as the ASEANM1, ASEANM3 an! so on, appropriate
for ASEAN.
$n the short3rn, the ASEAN 'ls framewor-s will sol%e ASEAN,s ma2or problem in
not ha%ing a member state with both large economic size an! high income le%el.
$ntra regional in%estment is estimate! to come from the new3member states of sch
regional3wi!e framewor-s.
At last, the relation between mar-et3!ri%en an! go%ernment3le! strateg" is
complementar" therefore ASEAN mst combine them in or!er to achie%e her
comprehensi%e regional economic integration ob2ecti%e.
20
CHAPTER / - The ASEAN Charter
+he ASEAN #harter !efines it as a legal entit" an! inter3go%ernmental organization
that has athorit" o%er its members. Un!erl"ing the mo%e towar!s nit" an!
integration is its new motto? Cone %ision, one i!entit", one commnit".D
+he #harter impro%es ASEAN,s s"stem of !ecision3ma-ing an! enforcement. $n the
past, the absence of sch athorit" le! to instabilit" an! a lac- of cohesi%eness an!
efficienc". Decision3ma-ing an! implementing bo!ies are crrentl" split into three
!efine! grops? the ASEAN smmit, the ASEAN #oor!inating #oncil, an! the
ASEAN #ommnit" #oncil.
+he #harter strengthens the athorit" of the ASEAN Smmit as the highest !ecision3
ma-ing bo!". $f it !isco%ers a member contr" that is not implementing ASEAN
proposals or !ecisions, or !isco%ers a serios breach of the charter or ASEAN,s basic
principles, the Smmit is empowere! to isse a resoltion on the matter. +he Smmit
will also recei%e an annal report from the secretar"3general as well as three separate
reports an! sggestions from the #ommnit" #oncil.
Im"!ications ,or Re%iona! Po!itics+he form pre!icte! that ASEAN integration will
strengthen it as a regional pla"er an! perhaps offset the !ominance of greater powers
in the area. $ntegration will n!obte!l" affect regional cooperati%e efforts in the
Asia3'acificL ASEAN can ser%e as a mo!el for other East Asian partnerships.
6an" participants saw integration as a means of enhancing the internal stabilit" of
member contries, thereb" pro%i!ing a fon!ation for ftre regional partnerships.
Jthers raise! the possibilit" that a stronger ASEAN i!entit" ma" wea-en its
willingness to participate in East Asia3le! cooperati%e efforts.
21
ASEAN) Another E0? A central !ebate !ring the conference focse! on whether a
meaningfl comparison col! be ma!e between ASEAN an! the Eropean Union
7EU8, especiall" now that ASEAN has assme! legal stats.
+he aims of both bo!ies are Iite similar? economic prosperit" an! the preser%ation of
competiti%eness in a globalizing worl!, regional secrit", an! stronger inflence %is3R3
%is powerfl neighbors. ASEAN see-s to mirror the EU,s economic integration.
4rthermore, its three !ecision3ma-ing an! implementing bo!ies mimic the EU,s set3
p.
Eowe%er, the respecti%e forms of integration within the EU an! ASEAN are
fn!amentall" !ifferent. +he EU is a spranational mo!el of cooperation. 6ember
contries share in !ecision3ma-ing that transcen!s national bon!aries. ASEAN, on
the other han!, is strongl" committe! to an intergo%ernmental approach in which
integration allows states to cooperate in specific fiel!s while retaining their
so%ereignt". +his nwillingness to ce!e power for 2oint cooperati%e efforts hin!ers
economic initiati%es. +his lac- of nit" can be seen in member states that, frstrate!
b" slow progress on tra!e negotiations, bro-e ran- to sign bilateral tra!e agreements.
$t re%eals a gap in intra3ASEAN e1pectations? some members want collecti%e
negotiation an! others want faster progress. $t is nclear whether the #harter will
allow for nimbler negotiations or resol%e these isses at all.
/.2 STR0CT0RE AN1 P0RP2SE o, ASEAN
ASEAN is a regional organization establishe! on 0A Agst 19):. Jn its 30
th
anni%ersar", ASEAN lea!ers agree! on a share! %ision of ASEAN as a concert of
Sotheast Asian nations, otwar! loo-ing, li%ing in peace, stabilit" an! prosperit",
bon!e! together in partnership in !"namic !e%elopment an! in a commnit" of caring
societies. At the 9th ASEAN Smmit in 2003, the ASEAN <ea!ers resol%e! to
establish an CASEAN #ommnit"D. Jn the 12th ASEAN Smmit in .anar" 200:,
the <ea!ers affirme! their strong commitment, to accelerate the establishment of an
ASEAN #ommnit" b" 201( an! signe! the #eb Declaration on the Acceleration of
the Establishment of an ASEAN #ommnit" b" 201(.
22
Article 2 of the ASEAN #harter sets the 'U='JSES of the organisation as follows?
1. +o maintain an! enhance peace, secrit" an! stabilit" an! frther strengthen peace3
oriente! %ales in the regionL
2. +o enhance reional resilience b" promoting greater political, secrit", economic an!
socio3cltral cooperationL
3. +o preser%e Sotheast Asia as a Nclear Feapon 4ree 0one an! free of all other
weapons of mass !estrctionL
@. +o ensre that the peoples an! 6ember States of ASEAN li%e in peace with the
worl! at large in a 2st, !emocratic an! harmonios en%ironmentL
(. +o create a single mar-et an! pro!ction base a which is stable, prosperos, highl"
competiti%e an! economicall" integrate! with effecti%e facilitation for tra!e an!
in%estment in which there is free flow of goo!s, ser%ices an! in%estmentL facilitate
mo%ement of bsiness persons, professionals, talents an! laborL an! free flow of
capitalL
). +o alle%iate po%ert" an! narrow the !e%elopment gap within ASEAN throgh
mtal assistance an! cooperationL
:. +o strengthen !emocrac", enhance goo! go%ernance an! the rle of law, an! to
promote an! protect hman rights an! fn!amental free3!oms, with !e regar! to the
rights an! responsibilities of the 6ember States of ASEANL
A. +o respon! effecti%el", in accor!ance with the principle of comprehensi%e secrit",
to all forms of threats, transnational crimes an! trans3bon!ar" challengesL
9. +o promote sstainable !e%elopment so as to ensre the protection of the region,s
en%ironment, the sstainabilit" of its natral resorces, the preser%ation of its cltral
heritage an! the high Ialit" of life of its peoplesL
10. +o !e%elop hman resorces throgh closer cooperation in e!cation an! life3long
learning, an! in science an! technolog", for the empowerment of the peoples of
ASEAN an! for the strengthening of the ASEAN #ommnit"L
11. +o enhance the well3being an! li%elihoo! of the peoples of ASEAN b" pro%i!ing
them with eIitable access to opportnit" for hman !e%elopment, social welfare an!
2sticeL
23
12. +o strengthen cooperation in bil!ing a safe, secre an! !rg3free en%ironment for
the peoples of ASEANL
13. +o promote a people3oriente! ASEAN in which all sectors of societ" are
encorage! to participate in, an! benefit from, the process of ASEAN integration an!
commnit" bil!ingL
1@. +o promote an! ASEAN i!entit" throgh the fostering of greater awareness of the
!i%erse cltre an! heritage of the regionL
1(. +o maintain the centralit" an! proacti%e role of ASEAN as the primar" !ri%ing
force in its relations an! cooperation with its e1ternal partners in a regional
architectre that is open, transparent an! inclsi%e.
. Structure
As the legal an! instittional framewor-, the ASEAN #harter also !escribes the
strctre of time organisation, setting forth the man!ate an! fnction of %arios
ASEAN,s organs. +he charter pro%isions on the organs pro%i!e a general gi!e on
how to engage ASEAN. +hose organs, an! their man!ate an! fnctions are?
1. ASEAN Summit
ASEAN smmit is the spreme polic"3ma-ing bo!" of ASEAN. +his organ
!eliberates, pro%i!es polic" gi!ance an! ta-es !ecisions on -e" isses pertaining to
the realisation of the ob2ecti%es of ASEAN, important matters of interest to 6ember
States an! all isses referre! to it b" the ASEAN #oor!inating #oncil, the ASEAN
#ommnit" #oncils an! ASEAN Sectorial 6inisterial ;o!ies.
$n a!!ition to the abo%e !escription, +he ASEAN Smmit also ?
7a.8 $nstrct the rele%ant 6inisters in each of the #oncils concerne! to hol! a! hoc
interministerial meetings an! a!!ress important isses
#oncerning ASEAN that ct across the #ommnit" #oncilsL
7b.8 Athorise the establishment an! the !issoltion of Sectoral 6inisterial
;o!ies an! other ASEAN instittionsL
24
7c.8 Appoint the Secretar"3&eneral of ASEANL an!
7!.8 A!!ress emergenc" sitations affecting ASEAN b" ta-ing appropriate actions.
2. ASEAN Coordinatin% Counci!
ASEAN #oor!inating #oncil is an organ that is compose! of the ASEAN
4oreign 6inisters. +his organ will prepare the meetings of the ASEAN Smmit,
coor!inate with the ASEAN #ommnit" #oncils to enhance polic" coherence,
efficienc" an! cooperation among them, coor!inate the reports of the ASEAN
#ommnit" #oncils to the ASEAN Smmit, consi!er the report of the Secretar"
&eneral on the fnctions an! operations of the ASEAN Secretariat an! other rele%ant
bo!ies, to appro%e the appointment an! termination of the Dept" Secretaries &eneral
pon the recommen!ation of the Secretar" &eneral, an! last bt not least n!erta-e
tas-s pro%i!e! for in the ASEAN #harter or sch other fnctions as ma" be assigne!
b" the ASEAN Smmit.
/. ASEAN Community Counci!s
ASEAN #ommnit" #oncil is comprise! of the ASEAN 'olitical3Secrit"
#ommnit" #oncil, ASEAN Economic #ommnit" #oncil, an! ASEAN Socio3
#ltral #ommnit" #oncil. $n each ASEAN #ommnit" #oncil meeting, each
6ember State of ASEAN !esignates its national representation.
Accor!ing to Article 9 of the ASEAN #harter, this organ shol! ensre the
implementation of the rele%ant !ecisions of the ASEAN Smmit, coor!inate the wor-
of the !ifferent sectors n!er its pr%iew, an! on isses, which ct across the other
#ommnit" #oncils, an! last bt not least sbmit reports an! recommen!ations to
the ASEAN Smmit on matters n!er its pr%iew.
3. ASEAN Sectora! &inisteria! ody
Each ASEAN Sectoral 6inisterial ;o!" has for general fnctions?
7a.8 4nction in accor!ance with their respecti%e establishe! man!atesL
7b.8 $mplement the agreements an! !ecisions of the ASEAN Smmit n!er their
respecti%e pr%iewsL
7c.8 Strengthen cooperation in their respecti%e fiel!s in spport of ASEAN integration
an! commnit" bil!ingL an!
25
7!.8 Sbmit reports an! recommen!ations to their respecti%e #ommnit"
#oncils.
4. Secretary-*enera! o, ASEAN and ASEAN Secretariat
ASEAN Secretariat is comprise! the Secretar"3&eneral an! staff. +he Secretar"3
&eneral an! the staff ha%e the obligation to refrain from an" action which might
reflect on their position as ASEAN Secretariat officials responsible onl" to ASEANL
not see- or recei%e instrction from an" go%ernment or e1ternal part" otsi!e of
ASEANL an! phol! the highest stan!ar!s of integrit", efficienc", an! competence in
the performance of their !ties. +he ASEAN
Smmit appoints the Secretar"3&eneral of ASEAN for a non3renewable term of office
of fi%e3"ears. EeBshe will be assiste! b" for Dept" Secretaries3 &eneral, which will
be accontable to the Secretar"3&eneral in carr"ing ot their fnctions.
5. Committee o, Permanent Re"resentati$es 'CPR( to ASEAN
Each ASEAN 6ember State appoints a 'ermanent =epresentati%e to ASEAN, with
ran- of Ambassa!or base! in .a-arta. #ollecti%el", the" constitte a #ommittee of
'ermanent =epresentati%es, who will spport the wor- of the ASEAN #ommnit"
#oncils an! ASEAN Sectoral 6inisterial ;o!ies. +he" liaise with the Secretar"3
&eneral of ASEAN an! the ASEAN Secretariat on all sb2ects rele%ant to its wor-,
an! facilitate ASEAN cooperation with e1ternal partners. +he" also coor!inate with
ASEAN National Secretariats an! other
ASEAN Sectoral 6inisterial ;o!ies an! perform sch other fnctions as ma" be
!etermine! b" the ASEAN #oor!inating #oncil.
6. ASEAN Nationa! Secretariats
Accor!ing to the ASEAN #harter, each ASEAN 6ember State shall establish an
ASEAN National Secretariat which will ser%e as the national focal points, be the
reprisitor" of information on all ASEAN matters at the national le%el, coor!inate the
implementation of ASEAN !ecisions at the national le%el, contribte to ASEAN
commnit" bil!ing. ;esi!e these, the" also coor!inate an! spport the national
preparations of ASEAN meetings an! promote ASEAN i!entit" an! awareness at the
national le%el.
26
A. ASEAN $ntergo%ernmental #ommission on Eman =ights 7A$#E=8
+he ASEAN $ntergo%ernmental #ommission on Eman =ights 7A$#E=8 is the
Chman rights bo!"D man!ate! to be establishe! n!er Article 1@ of the
ASEAN #harter. +he primar" prpose of this bo!" is the promotion an! protection of
hman rights in conformit" with the prpose an! principles of the
#harter.
9. ASEAN 4on!ation
+his organ will spport the Secretar"3&eneral of ASEAN an! collaborate with the
rele%ant ASEAN bo!ies to spport ASEAN commnit" bil!ing b" promoting greater
awareness of the ASEAN i!entit", people3to3people interaction, an! close
collaboration among the bsiness sector, ci%il societ", aca!emia an! other
sta-ehol!ers in ASEAN.
+his organ will be accontable to the Secretar"3&eneral of ASEAN, who will sbmit
report abot this bo!" to the ASEAN Smmit throgh the ASEAN
#oor!inating #oncil.
ASEAN also has other organs that are relate! to hman rights. +his incl!es the
ASEAN #ommission on the 'romotion an! 'rotection of the =ights of Fomen an!
#hil!ren 7A#F#8 an! the ASEAN #ommittee on the $mplementation of the ASEAN
Declaration on the 'rotection an! 'romotion of the =ights of 6igrant For-ers
7A#6F8.
27
Cha"ter 3 - I&PACT 27 ASEAN 8 E.am"!e o, Thai!and as a
mem9er o, ASEAN and +ith the comin% AEC.
+he ASEAN Economic #ommnit" aims to increase regional competiti%eness b"
re!cing the cost of cross3bor!er tra!e, thereb" increasing the flow of both people an!
goo!s throgh the 11 710 fll time8 member states. $t achie%es this with simplifie!
%isa processes, eIitable economic !e%elopment, low import !ties an! the
!e%elopment of a single mar-et. All of these things are positi%e contribtors to a
growing nmber of regional tra%ellers for both bsiness an! leisre prposes, an!
greater integration between companies who operate internationall".
As the effects of ASEAN integration will impact a broa! spectrm of companies in
+hailan!, it is important that organisations are rea!" to not onl" cope bt also
capitalise on the growth effects of the impen!ing liberalisation broght abot b" fll
ASEAN Economic #ommnit" integration.
Which countries are "arts o, ASEAN?
#rrentl", ASEAN 7Association of Soth East Asian Nations8 consists of 10 fll
members?
$n!onesia
6ala"sia
'hilippines
Singapore
+hailan!
;rnei
6"anmar
#ambo!ia
<aos
>ietnam
East +imor 7bi! stage8
CASEAN pls 3D incl!es Soth /orea, #hina an! .apan, who ha%e ple!ge! spport
to certain rles concerning the re!ction in cross3bor!er legislation an! cost
re!ction, bt who are not fll members of the ASEAN commnit".
28
There are 9oth o""ortunities and threats in the emer%in% sin%!e mar:et and
"roduction 9ase ,rame+or:.
What are the "otentia! 9ene,its and dan%ers ,or any com"any?
$n terms of benefits, the AE# effecti%el" means an integrate! total consmer base of
o%er )00 million potential cstomers. +his is the most e1iting facet of economic
integration. =e!ction in the cost of mo%ing people an! goo!s across bor!ers will
bring a real opening3p of the regional mar-et particlarl" in terms of hospitalit" an!
the 6$#E sector, where more people in Asia will be encorage! to !isco%er a wi!er
%ariet" of bsiness an! leisre !estinations at a lower cost. +his will reslt in hge
growth in the torism, hospitalit" an! international bsiness sectors. +he lower cost
bases will also encorage health" competition, raising the bar ni%ersall" on a %ariet"
of in!stries in Asia. $t has the potential to increase the appeal of this area for both
international bsiness an! leisre %isitors. J%erall, ASEAN Economic $ntegration is
seen as being a highl" e1citing prospect an! man" organisations welcome it warml".
$n terms of threats, the ASEAN Economic #ommnit" will bring increasing le%els of
high Ialit" o%erseas competition to mar-et, so firms with an a!%ance! mar-et
position ha%e to ensre that their operations spport the maintenance of their position
as regional lea!ers in this regar!. 4or this reason, in!stries in +hailan! nee! to offer
a nilaterall" high stan!ar! of ser%ice, a more sophisticate! pro!ct offering an! the
abilit" to flfill the !eman!s of international an! regional bsiness an! leisre
cstomers, withot losing the niIel" charming +hai approach to bsiness, leisre
an! torism in +hailan!.
Inde"endent Nationa! Identity under ASEAN
+wo cornerstones of the ASEAN #ommnit" since its inception in 19): ha%e been
national e1istence an! national i!entit". +his is significant in sectors in%ol%ing
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inbon! tra%el or inbon!s bsiness to +hailan! becase a core part of the appeal of
tra%el to %arios contries is to en2o" a local e1perience, which is in3-eeping with a
national i!entit". $n the case of +hailan!, this means worl! famos hospitalit",
cltrall" significant sites an! attractions, low cost of !oing bsiness, a liberalise!
econom", a pro3bsiness go%ernment 7regar!less of political !ifferences an! shifts in
lea!ership8 an! a fn!amentall" son! econom" which is capable of sstaine!
growth. ASEAN will remo%e barriers in terms of cltral integration, bt it,s
important that +hailan! is able to retain its intrinsic C+hai3nessD for both bsiness an!
leisre tra%ellers to the contr".
7or Thai!and; +hat are the country#s stren%ths and +ea:nesses in the 11-country
ASEAN %rou"in%; %enera!!y?
Strengths
A famosl" ser%ice3min!e! cltre
A strong reptation of being able to ta-e care of international an! regional
%isitors
A %isitor e1perience that is e1otic, welcoming, rela1ing an! fn.
&reat %ale with e1cellent retrn on in%estment
An alrea!" liberalise! tra!e econom"
A pro3bsiness go%ernment
#ontine! in%estment in infrastrctre pro2ects
UniIe blen! of tra!itional an! mo!ern elements that ha%e become
s"non"mos with the contr"
A Iintessentiall" +hai e1perience which gests to the contr" e1pect an!
en2o"

Fea-nesses
'oor reptation for h"giene, cleanliness, health an! safet",
<ac- of -nowle!ge an! Ialit" of training of staff in certain sectors
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'rices ha%e become sb2ect to recent inflationar" pressres
A lac- of a baseline stan!ar! across man" professional in!stries
Unstable an! npre!ictable political en%ironment
Fi!esprea! corrption at ministerial, !e%ol%e! regional an! in!epen!ent
policing tiers
Satrate! retail an! leisre mar-ets
$ncreasingl" sophisticate! !eman!s of cstomers
What measures shou!d industries 9e ta:in% uni$ersa!!y in "re"aration ,or AEC?
All organisations at %arios le%els ha%e to 2oin together to impro%e an! le%erage the
stan!ar! of their in!str" in +hailan! to maintain the contr",s mar-et position an!
cltral integrit". New inno%ati%e !e%elopments in terms of pro!cts an! ser%ices
shol! help to e%ol%e the in!str" as +hailan! remains a forwar!3loo-ing
en%ironment for bsiness. De%elopment of facilities an! infrastrctre 7again, with a
ni%ersal stan!ar!8 will spport ftre growth. +hailan! is able to le%erage its
international reptation for ser%ice regar!less of the sector being consi!ere!. +he
contr" will nee! to maintain a strong go%ernment that is pro3bsiness an! pro3
in%estment in or!er to spport this ob2ecti%e. #entralize! bsiness operations 7in
+hailan! or o%erseas8 an! control of licensing an! franchising will help to e%ol%e an
international stan!ar! !omesticall", which positions the contr" to be most effecti%e
post3integration. +he contr" nee!s to implement effecti%e monitoring of h"giene,
sanitation, cleanliness an! the !e%elopment of personnel across a %ariet" of pblic
facing sectors.
Fhilst it is impossible for a single organisation to fll" spearhea! these wi!esprea!
initiati%es, companies shol! be loo-ing at their own internal operations, strctre,
proce!res an! strategic planning an! resorces to be rea!" to e1ploit opportnities
for growth, an! mitigate an" contr"3le%el perception threats.
Trade and E."ort
+hailan!,s baseline growth has been enigmatic o%er the last fifteen "earsL economic
crashes in Asia an! Erope, political cops, wi!esprea! corrption, floo!s, isses with
the =e! Shirt political mo%ement, trmoil in the far Soth of the contr" an! recent
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bomb threats in the capital, "et still the econom" grows. +his is potentiall" the reslt
of +hailan!,s efforts towar!s becoming a more !i%ersifie! econom", as it mo%es awa"
from being simpl" a torism hot3spot an! e1porter of rice. +hailan! crrentl" en2o"s a
strong global reptation in finance, manfactring, pro!ce H commo!ities,
technolog", healthcare, e!cation, atomobile manfactring an! software
!e%elopment 5 an e1cellent &D' mi1 that has manage! to o%ercome m"ria! isses in
the last two !eca!es. +his mi1 shol! mean that +hailan! will not onl" prosper after
integration, bt be able to !ri%e regional growth as both a thoght lea!er an! mo!el
for impro%ing baseline re%ene generation ami!st its peers. Eowe%er, se%eral
contries within the region are also en2o"ing strong growth le%els, an! from a lower
base cost of pro!ctionL ASEAN economic integration will pro%i!e a platform for the
accelerate! growth of competitors, which ma" or ma" not pro%e to be !etrimental to
+hailan!,s own !esigns on a thrst towar!s sstaine! e1pansion.
-a9our &ar:et
Jne of the -e" benefits that integration has affor!e! to people within the EU is the
nprece!ente! le%el of mobilit" it gi%es to those of wor-ing age. +he common mar-et
has reslte! in a highl" reacti%e wor-force, which has little hesitation in relocating to
fin! 7or impro%e8 their wor-ing life. $t also raises isses in terms of ncappe!
immigration, as 4rance, &erman" an! the U/ ha%e !isco%ere! to be !etrimental in a
nmber of wa"s. $nbon! flow of s-ills an! a rea!il"3emplo"e! labor force is great
for a growing &D' contribtion, bt teething trobles in the s"stem,s chec-s an!
balances reslts in hn!re!s of thosan!s of people mo%ing between bor!ers,
ob%iosl" ha%ing a consi!erable impact on citizens of a so%ereign state. Jnce signe!
p, it is impossible for a member contr" to limit the nmber of immigrants from
other member states, creating !eman!s on hosing, healthcare an! policing resorces.
$t also opens p a potential eas" channel for C;rain Drain,D where the most e!cate!
members of societ" lea%e to prse opportnities in regional competitor labor
mar-ets.
Tra$e!; Tourism < Hos"ita!ity
An in!str", which is li-el" to see hge benefits 7an! challenges8 after integration, the
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tra%el an! torism sector is on the front line of -e" changes throgh integration. $t is
eas" to assme that with tra%el restrictions being re!ce! that inbon! tra%eller
nmbers to +hailan! will increase, bt the sector nee!s to be aware that this increases
the mobilit" of tra!itional !omestic Csta"cationD mar-ets. Jne effect of EU
integration was a hge re!ction in the cost of o%erseas holi!a"s, which meant that it
was often cheaper for holi!a"ma-ers to go for cheap o%erseas pac-ages rather than
ta-ing holi!a"s in other parts of their own contr". +his has an effect on the
econom",s re%ene3generating abilities at large. $n terms of inbon! nmbers, there
col! be a profon! effect on hospitalit" !eman!, bt with +hailan! alrea!"
o%erspplie! with hotels, con!os an! resorts, the effect is "et to be fll" n!erstoo!.
6ost within the in!str" see ASEAN as a -e" game3changer for the ne1t !eca!eL
althogh a nee! for increasing le%els of competiti%eness are necessar" for +hailan! to
remain a regionall" attracti%e !estination o%er other e1otic an! new3to3mar-et
!estinations li-e <aos an! the 'hilippines. +hailan!,s reptation for ntrstworth"
%en!ors, capitalising ta1i an! t- t- !ri%ers, high %isitor attraction costs for
foreigners compare! to +hais an! other secrit" concerns lea%e the sector e1pose! to
Cnew neighborsD in man" respects, an! illstrati%e of a focse!, in!str"3wi!e
approach being con!ci%e to !omestic competiti%eness.
-o%istics
An earl" a!opter of infrastrctre3!ri%en strateg" for the benefit of capitalising on
integrate! cross3bor!er acti%it", the logistics in!str" n!erstan!s fll well what
integration will mean for this sectorL re!ce! transportation costs, simplifie!
!ocmentation, impro%e! integrate! scanning an! rea!ing technolog", cost sharing,
hb sharing an! e1pe!ite! !eli%er" times are all e1citing benefits of integration. Areas
incl!ing <aos an! 6"anmar remain a challenge, bt the brea-ing !own of
7percei%e! an! a!ministrati%e8 bor!ers shol! help cross3bor!er tra!e hgel". +here is
also the a!!e! benefit that e1ten!s be"on! the logistic sectorL that is, re!ce! costs
mean higher %olmes for importers an! e1porters, an! in theor", a mch larger
%olme of chargeable halage for integrate! logistics pro%i!ers.
Education
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=e!ction in legislati%e barriers to st!ents wishing to st!" in other contries within
the commnit" will li-el" ha%e a similar affect to that seen within the EU. Effecti%el",
a st!ent ma" choose where to st!", with a single pool of e!cation 7conceptall"8
open to all. +here are limitations, of corse. 4or e1ample, a st!ent from <aos ma"
wish to st!" at a top ran-e! ni%ersit" in Singapore, althogh the cost ma" be
prohibiti%e. +he positi%e effect lies in the fact that after integration, all e!cation
centres ma" be 2!ge! from a common baselineL the hope is that this will gi%e schools
in contries where e!cation is sbstan!ar! more impets to impro%e to at least meet
a regional a%erage. +here is also the possibilit" that a liberalise! Soth3east Asia will
be capable of attracting a greater nmber of high3calibre st!ents from Erope an!
America.
7ood < e$era%e
Asia has for man" "ears en2o"e! something of an integrate! single mar-et in terms of
4H; import an! e1port. A Iic- wal- aron! a mall in +hailan! will re%eal hge
cross3o%er in the restarant mar-et with .apanese, /orean an! >ietnamese foo!
poplar with man" +hais. +hailan! also en2o"s a strong e1port mar-et, with a low
cost base being a positi%e contribtor towar!s health" le%els of otbon! canne! an!
bottle! goo!s tra!es. $ntegration ma" possibl" mean that more cross3o%er pro!cts
becoming a%ailable in all member contries, with <aos an! 6"anmar representing
potential growth mar-ets for e1porters. Fea- infrastrctre has been a barrier to this
flow so far, bt re!ction in legislati%e !ifficlties an! !ties shol! help promote
two3wa" tra!e in this sector, an! the opening p of a %ast regional single mar-et.
3.2 SW2T Ca"ita!i=ation Case Study 8 The Retai! &ar:et
+he 6all &rop, a sccessfl +hai3owne! !e%eloper an! manager of shopping malls,
wants to enhance the s-ills of its emplo"ees an! prepare all of its bsiness nits for
the formation of the ASEAN Economic #ommnit" in 201(. $t opene! an Aca!em"
earlier this "ear at +he 6all Ngam Fong Fan to train 1,000 managers on creati%it"
an! a wi!er bsiness perspecti%e with the ASEAN single mar-et in min!.
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C+he Aca!em" will pro%i!e -nowle!ge to or mi!3le%el e1ecti%es, co%ering areas
incl!ing general bsiness, the ASEAN retail mar-et, goo! preparation in response to
mar-et integration an! !ealing with the threat of growing competition from the AE#,D
sai! #hairman 6a"taprecha-l, Senior #hief 6ar-eting Jfficer.
+he AE# is sppose! to allow a wi!er flow of pro!cts, in%estments an! s-ille!
wor-ers within the region, so when torists %isit an" ASEAN contr", the" will
e1pect to see similar pro!cts when the" go shopping. +he 6all has negotiate! with
bran! owners of fashion pro!cts in other ASEAN contries to carr" these items.
CSome fashion items a%ailable in .apan will ha%e to be here as well. +hat,s wh" or
people ha%e to n!erstan! the tren!s an! -now the regional mar-et,D he sai!. Staff
langage s-ills are also important to the firm. +herefore, a nmber of English3
spea-ing sales staff will be a%ailable at Siam 'aragon, Emporim an! other branches
of +he 6all.
+he compan" is e1cite! abot the AE#,s potential as there is hge prchasing power
across the region, an! +hailan! is one of the most poplar torist !estinations.
Conc!usion
Fhen the AE# officiall" comes into effect on December 31, 201(, it will mar- a
significant milestone of ASEAN member contries, commitment to come an! wor-
together as an economic bloc. Fhile it wol! be nrealistic to e1pect a smoothl"
fnctioning economic commnit" right from the start, the AE# framewor- col! lift
the sense of soli!arit" an! ltimatel" bsiness an! consmer confi!ence. +he AE#
will still be a wor- in progress an! shol! be percei%e! in that light. $t is also
important to recognise that a regional networ- will not cre !omestic economic ills.
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Different contries an! !ifferent sectors will see !ifferent effects.
A potential negati%e impact col! be fiercer competition an! wage constraints for
low3s-ille! wor-ers in high3cost 7high3income8 contries, similar to what ble3collar
wor-ers in the US an! EU ha%e face! in the wa-e of globalisation. 4or small
bsinesses in the high3cost contries, more competition col! also bring abot a
sIeeze in profit margins. 4or small contries, a s!!en srge in capital inflows can
be o%erwhelming an! lea! to high inflation, bbble ris-s, a boom3bst c"cle an!
stress for the ban-ing sector. 6easres shol! ths be prepare! to help potentiall"
affecte! wor-ers 7i.e. e1pan!ing social secrit" nets an! training8 an!, in the smaller
economies, to bil! instittions to cope with the new economic para!igm.
+hose that stan! to gain from the AE# are companies that alrea!" ha%e a regional or
global networ-, as the ease of mo%ing goo!s, capital an! labor aron! will re!ce
costs an! sa%e time an! ths enhance pro!cti%it". E!cate! wor-ers from lower3
wage contries are li-el" to be in !eman! in the initial stage. .ob creation is e1pecte!
to be strong in the lower3wage contries. +he financial sector is another clear winner.
$ncreasing tra!e an! in%estment flows spell more bsiness for financial instittions.
J%erall, we e1pect the AE# to bring abot a net positi%e contribtion to ASEAN
members, economic growth an! the welfare of its people.
I-I2*RAPH>
http?BBwww.mar-etingthai.or.th
http?BBwww.asean.org
www.aseansec.org
www.a!bi.org
www.nationmltime!ia.com
www.mar-etingthai.or.th
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