Berlin – “Understanding the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
Perspectives and Opportunities for the German Business Community” is the topic of an all-day event organized by the OAV -German Asia-Pacific Business Association, Hamburg, on Monday, 23 June, from 9:30-5:00 pm at the Haus der Commerzbank, Pariser Platz 1, 10117 Berlin.
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) shall be the goal of regional economic integration by 2015. The AEC envisages the following key characteristics: (a) a single market and production base, (b) a highly competitive economic region, (c) a region of equitable economic development, and (d) a region fully integrated into the global economy.
The AEC areas of cooperation include human resources development and capacity building; recognition of professional qualifications; closer consultation on macroeconomic and financial policies; trade financing measures; enhanced infrastructure and communications connectivity; development of electronic transactions through e-ASEAN; integrating industries across the region to promote regional sourcing; and enhancing private sector involvement for the building of the AEC. In short, the AEC will transform ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour, and freer flow of capital.
The AEC will thereby will create a huge single market in Southeast Asia that combines a population of more than 600 million and a total GDP of around 2.3 trillion USD. Goods and services, labor and capital are expected to flow freely among the member states of the AEC. Thus, understanding the developments and dynamics of AEC is vital for identifying opportunities and drawing perspectives for the German Business Community.
THE BERLIN EVENT
The event will provide expert information on the integration framework and its potential impact for the German business community. Proficient speakers from the ASEAN Secretariat and from the private sector will look at different aspects of the integration process.
In the panel sessions, academic and technical experts will speak on the current status of implementation and will look at issues of harmonizing norms and standards.
Corporate representatives will explain how the private sector assesses risks and opportunities brought about by the AEC. Country representatives from Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand will outline national implementation strategies, covering aspects like infrastructure development by means of public-private partnerships, the emerging architecture for financial markets and regional investments, and the transport and logistics industry.
TENTATIVE PROGRAM
Welcome Remarks
– Dr.-Ing. Axel Stepken, Member of the OAV Executive Board
– H.E. Mr Pehin Dato Abdul Jalil Ahmad, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam, Speaker of the ASEAN Ambassadors in Germany
Key Note Speeches:
– “Economic Integration in ASEAN – A Perspective of the Private Sector” by Representative of the OAV Executive Board
– “ASEAN Integration and the Private Sector – How the Asian Development Bank Supports Private Sector Involvement for Social and Economic Development in South East Asia” by Stephen P. Groff, Vice President, Asian Development Bank/ADB
– “German Support to South East Asian Integration” by Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, Parliamentary Secretary, Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development/BMZ
– “Political, Physical and Economic Integration in the ASEAN Economic Community” by Representative of the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta
Panel I:
Key Dimensions of Economic Integration in ASEAN
– Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rüland (Universität Freiburg)
– Andrea Ulbrich (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig)
– Representative of the ASEAN Secretariat
– Representative of the German-ASEAN Chamber Network (GACN)
– Representative of German Company
Panel II:
Country Strategies to Operationalize the AEC-The cases of Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand
– Hon. Cosette V. Canilao, Undersecretary & Executive Director, Public-Private Partnership Centre, Philippines
– Ir. Tamba P. Hutapea, Deputy Chairman Investment Planning, Indonesia Investment Coordination Board (BKPM), Indonesia
– Techa Boonyachai, Vice Chairman, Thai National Shippers’ Council, Thailand
– Representative from Singapore
Concluding Session & Bilateral Networking
REGISTRATION FEE
EUR 70 per person
EUR 40 for OAV-members
CONTACT
Daniel Müller, Regional Manager ASEAN, mueller@oav.de, Tel. +49-40-3575 5929