APR News

The fourth issue of the ASEAN Economic Integration Brief (AEIB) (in English) is released in time for the 33rd ASEAN Summit.
The ASEAN Secretariat is pleased to announce the publication of the fourth issue of our ASEAN Economic Integration Brief (AEIB). First launched in June 2017, the AEIB has been providing periodic updates on the progress of ASEAN economic integration, as well as global and regional developments relevant to ASEAN.
Consistent with the overall theme of Singapore’s 2018 ASEAN Chairmanship, the key message of this issue is that resiliency and innovation are not only crucial for ASEAN to navigate global and regional challenges, but also to transform these challenges into opportunities to further deepen and seize the benefits of economic integration in the region.
The issue features three thematic articles. In the special feature article, H.E. Mr. Chan Chun Sing, the Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore and Chair of the ASEAN Economic Ministers 2018, highlights the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) agenda under the Singapore’s 2018 ASEAN Chairmanship. The second article, by Allan Bollard, the Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat, highlights APEC main agenda under the Papua New Guinea’s inaugural APEC chairmanship this year. Lastly, the third article contributed by Choi Shing Kwok, the Executive Director of ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute of Singapore, looks into the need for a speedy conclusion of the Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA), which would bring benefits for businesses, consumers, and travellers alike.
This issue also includes regular sections on regional economic outlook, updates on the AEC, and the latest ASEAN statistics. A centre-fold infographic illustrating ASEAN in the Fourth Industrial Revolution is also included.
The ASEAN Economic Integration Brief is produced by the ASEAN Integration Monitoring Directorate (AIMD) of the ASEAN Secretariat.

ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME) launched the Future of ASEAN: 50 Success Stories of Digitalisation of ASEAN MSMEs publication at the sidelines of the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2018 in Singapore.
The ASEAN-Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) congratulated the ACCMSME on the release of the publication. “It is a real source of inspiration for all and we look forward to more success stories from MSMEs who venture and thrive in the digital era being replicated many times over in the following publications,” said Dr. Robert Yap, Chair of ASEAN-BAC.
The publication profiles 50 inspiring stories of MSMEs in the ASEAN region that have leveraged digital technology in starting, sustaining and growing their businesses from sectors such as agriculture and fisheries to beauty and fashion, information technology, manufacturing and services. The publication also provides good references to the various government support programmes available in ASEAN to promote digital technology adoption among MSMEs.
Dato Lim Jock Hoi, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, said “MSMEs are critical to the well-being of the region and to the success of the ASEAN economic integration agenda. Embracing digital technologies will help MSMEs to have better market access, become resilient and thrive in this digital age.”

The 3rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women (AMMW) was held under the theme of “Social Protection for Women and Girls: Toward ASEAN Vision 2025” on 25 October 2018.
The meeting took note of the deliberations of the 15th, 16th and 17th ASEAN Committee on Women Meetings, and other important developments, such as the outcomes and recommendation of the ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls. Participants also commended the achievements and progress of ASEAN’s regional cooperation on advancing gender equality and empowering all women and girls during the period 2015-2018.
An open session was conducted with UN Women and Asian Development Bank with an emphasis on the Gender Equality and the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific publication.

The International Trade Centre (ITC) and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) announced on 25 October 2018 the launch of the National Centre for Enterprise Management Development, which will serve to strengthen the internationalization of Chinese micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The new training centre was announced by CCPIT Chairperson Gao Yan and ITC Executive Director Arancha González on the 12th World Trade Promotion Organizations Conference taking place in Paris, France.
During their meeting in Paris, González and Gao signed a license agreement that bestows upon CCPIT the right to operate in China the National Centre for Enterprise Management Development. The centre will provide training and counselling programmes with a view to enhance the export-management capacities of Chinese MSMEs, using a methodology, materials and tools provided by ITC.

The Ministers from the 16 RCEP Participating Countries (RPCs) attended the 6th RCEP Intersessional Ministerial Meeting held on 13 October 2018 in Singapore. The Ministers reviewed the developments since the 6th RCEP Ministerial Meeting on 30-31 August 2018 in Singapore, particularly the outcomes of intersessional meetings held by various Working Groups and Sub-Working Groups
The Ministers welcomed the intensification of market access negotiations.
The Ministers reaffirmed their resolve to bring negotiations to a substantial conclusion and reiterated that the completion of the Package by the year-end is an important milestone, particularly at the time of uncertainties in global trade. The Ministers agreed to work together to overcome any difficulty or challenge as the RCEP negotiations enter into the last mile.

The ASEAN Forum on Women’s Economic Empowerment was held on 27-28 August 2018 in Singapore.
Jointly organised by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), the forum was supported by the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore. It was the first project that promotes and protects the rights of women through economic empowerment.
Representatives from the AICHR, ACWC, Senior Economic Officials and the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network, as well as private sector and civil society representatives from ASEAN Member States shared experiences and exchanged good practices that contribute to the greater economic participation and empowerment of women through all stages of life.
The forum comprised five sessions, namely, Empowering Female Employees at the Workplace; Breaking Barriers and Re-inventing Traditional Businesses; Creating New Businesses in Emerging Industries; Shaping Corporate Culture for Women Leadership Development; and Empowering Women in the Silver Economy.

Singapore is hosting the 50th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting and Related Meetings starting 28 August until 1 September 2018.
In line with the theme of Singapore’s 2018 ASEAN Chairmanship – “Resilient and Innovative”, economic priority deliverables for this year are being pursued under the five key thrusts of promoting innovation and e-commerce flows, improving trade facilitation in ASEAN, deepening services and investment integration, cultivating a conducive regulatory environment, and progressing ASEAN’s external relations.
The 50th AEM Meeting will deliberate, among others, on the progress of these economic priority deliverables, ASEAN economic performance, implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and ASEAN external economic relations.
Following the 50th AEM Meeting, the ASEAN economic ministers will meet with their counterparts from Dialogue Partner countries namely Australia and New Zealand (Closer Economic Relations), Canada, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States, as well as with private sector representatives from the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) and other regional business councils.

ASEAN, together with its dialogue partner China and the UNDP called on local governments of the region to take a more active role in poverty alleviation programmes as espoused by the sustainable development goals (SDGs) agenda. The call was made at a symposium held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 21 August 2018.

At the opening of the ASEAN-China-UNDP Symposium on Localising the SDGs and Realising Poverty Eradication, ASEAN’s Deputy Secretary-General for Socio-cultural Community Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee highlighted ASEAN’s efforts in building the ASEAN Community that is rules-based, people-oriented and people-centred. He noted the progress and achievements ASEAN has made in promoting complementarities between ASEAN’s Vision 2025 and the SDGs. He said “ASEAN Vision 2025 and SDG converge. The desire of the peoples of ASEAN to live in a peaceful, harmonious, inclusive, resilient, and healthy community meets the strong leadership and commitment of the ASEAN Leaders. Let us all leverage on the complementarities between these two important agendas for the betterment of the peoples of ASEAN.”
Based on latest data from ASEANStats, economic progress in ASEAN in the last 50 years has significantly reduced poverty across the region. The proportion of ASEAN population living with less than USD1.25 PPP per day fell from a high of 47% in 1990 to 14% in 2015. The SDG goal to “leave no one behind” means ASEAN still has some work to do.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Huang Xilian reiterated his government’s support to synergizing the implementation of the UN Agenda 2030 in his remarks. He said “China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the UN and ASEAN to foster sustainable development as a new growth point of China-ASEAN cooperation and enhance intensive cooperation in clean energy, poverty eradication, environmental protection and climate change.” Amb. Xilian emphasized that sustainable development and poverty eradication would be impossible without the support of all sectors.

Doing business in APEC member economies continues to get easier, according to a new report, helping to open up trade and growth opportunities in the Asia-Pacific against the backdrop of rising uncertainty.
An analysis of business conditions in APEC economies by the APEC Policy Support Unit reveals a 7.3 per cent improvement over the last two years, boosted by their ambitious ease of doing business initiative being taken forward by economic officials in Port Moresby. The initiative is focused on five priority areas: 1) Getting credit; 2) starting a business; 3) dealing with construction permits; 4) enforcing contracts; and 5) trading across borders.

ASEAN updated the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2025 Consolidated Strategic Action Plan (CSAP) to include action lines from sectoral work plans.
Following its first publication on 6 February 2017, and as mandated by the AEC Council, the AEC 2025 CSAP was updated to include the Strategic Action Plan 2016-2025 for ASEAN Taxation Cooperation, the ASEAN Work Programme on Electronic Commerce 2017-2025, the AEC 2025 Trade Facilitation Strategic Action Plan. The updates also include ASEAN Work Plan on Good Regulatory Practices 2016-2017 and changes to the timelines and key action lines of other AEC sectoral bodies—all of which were endorsed after the initial publication.