ASEAN Economic Director: 'AEC is not about Trade Liberalisation'

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - This year is considered to be the starting point of a big leap for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as its hotly discussed Economic Community will be formally established this year. 

In trying to attain the goals of the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community which are expected to happen by 2025, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Relations will be working closely with the ASEAN associates in Indonesia.

The Directorate of ASEAN Economic Cooperation who also professes as the secretary for ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Ina Haniningtyas Krishnamurti informed that the international secretariat office is situated in the Foreign Ministry's office located in Jakarta.

"As for the pillars of the AEC economy, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry along with Ministry of Economy and Trade Ministry will be held accountable for the overall coordination" Ina explained during press briefing held on Thursday 9 July 2015 at the Foreign Ministry’s office, Jakarta.

There has been a growing misconception about MEA suggesting its role as solely the instrument for trade liberalization in the region. 

Ina rejected that very notion and went to explain that the role of MEA is to boost ASEAN nations' sense of competitiveness thus that each of them will be economically and mentally prepared for any kind of cross-border issues they may face in the future especially in an increasingly competitive environment.

"AEC faces issues that are largely cross- brorder and so therefore the Indonesian Foreign Ministry acts as the coordinator in addressing these cross- cutting issues," she further explained.

Another growing misconception is that people tend to view AEC as merely a concept with its impact only felt momentarily or during the period of 2015. 

Ina again clarified such notion as she explained that the year 2015 is only the beginning and the actual accomplishments or results can only be justified through the progresses that may potentially occur post-2015.

So, balanced economic development and justice are both the desired repercussion to AEC which can happen at any year post-2015. 

But the year 2015 itself is considered as the preliminary stage of ASEAN nations overall development and intensified cooperation. 

The development will be done in a gradual manner and is expected to yield blatant results by 2025. (Akp/Tnt)