AFTA must include all fisheries

AFTA must include all fisheries

JAKARTA (JP): The ASEAN Fisheries Federation (AFF) yesterday urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to include all fish products in its free trade arrangements.

Federation chairman J.A. Sumendap said at the opening of its seventh two-day council meeting and business conference in Bangkok yesterday that the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) should include all fish products as early as possible so entrepreneurs can trade better.

ASEAN, under the AFTA agreement, is liberalizing trade among its six members -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- by the year 2003.

"Any further delay would dampen the strong ASEAN spirit currently prevailing amongst fishery companies," Sumendap told the meeting, which was opened by Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.

"For that purpose, we would like all AFF members to support the establishment of the ASEAN Fisheries Corporation, which was planned quite some time ago," Sumendap said in his speech, a copy of which was made available to The Jakarta Post.

He said that ASEAN governments should also provide financial assistance for deep-sea fishing businesses.

"Some banks in ASEAN nations are reluctant to provide loans for deep-sea fishing, as they have classified this as a high risk venture," he said. "We have insurance companies to cover the loss, should there be any loss."

He also proposed that ASEAN countries cut red tape at customs to guarantee a smooth flow of trade.

Delegates from the six member countries and observers from Vietnam participated in the meeting.(kod)