ASEAN businessmen asked to take active role in APEC
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno is asking businessmen from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to pursue an active role in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day meeting of the ASEAN Business Forum here last night, the Vice President noted that closer cooperation with other APEC members is an essential factor in enabling ASEAN countries to get their peace of the growing economic pie.
He also encouraged ASEAN businessmen to take part in cooperation made under APEC arrangements to protect their own interests.
Economic cooperation between the 17 members of APEC is very effective in promoting world economic growth, the Vice President said.
He, however, warned that the organization will be successful only if it does not turn into an exclusive economic group.
APEC's 17 members include the six ASEAN members -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Mexico, Taiwan, China, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada.
Discussions
The business forum, for ASEAN's private sector, will discuss investment opportunities, global trade and infrastructure development during their two-day meeting.
State Minister for National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita is to deliver a key-note address on maintaining ASEAN's competitive edge in attracting foreign investment today.
"We should continue our efforts to discover new models of cooperation but we should not depart from the world economic and trading system," Try said, adding that ASEAN economic cooperation should always remain open and overseas-oriented as a positive contribution to the creation of fairer, more open, and balanced international trade.
The Vice President noted that the establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) is not meant to increase trade alone among ASEAN countries.
"Its important objective is to promote greater economic efficiency among the member nations in order to produce better competitive qualities and thus gain greater access to the global market," Try said.(hen)