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ASEAN'S PRIORITY IS TO BOOST SINGLE MARKET & EMERGE AS ATTRACTIVE INVESTMENT DESTINATION
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Senior economic officials today finalised the agenda for ASEAN ministers to mull initiatives to boost regional trade, step up private sector cooperation as well as galvanise efforts towards making Southeast Asia a single attractive destination for global investments.
Ministry of International Trade and Industry Secretary-General Tan Sri Dr Rebecca Sta Maria said the two-day meeting touched on trade facilitation which would be the ultimate priority for members to work on in the next five years as it was a crucial prerequisite to lure more investments to the region.
"The discussions also touched on various free trade agreements and initiatives towards enhancing cooperation that we are undertaking, as well as deepening our economic linkages," said Rebecca, who chaired the two-day meeting ahead of the ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting (AEM) which starts Saturday.
On the expectations of the AEM, Rebecca hoped to see the update on all the deliverable targets by the ministers and their aspirations for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by year-end.
The 47th AEM, held here from Aug 20 to 25, will put the finishing touches to the formal establishment of the AEC by year-end.
Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed yesterday said the meeting would discuss the implementation of AEC measures, especially the completion of commitments agreed under the AEC 2015 Blueprint.
-- BERNAMA