ASEAN businessmen asked to take active role in APEC
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)