ASEAN to discuss investment

ASEAN to discuss investment

BANGKOK (AFP): Economic ministers from the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will focus on investment when
they meet on the Thai resort island of Phuket next week, Thai
officials said on Tuesday.

Thai Board of Investment secretary general Staporn Kavitanon
said the Phuket talks would develop the ASEAN Investment Area
(AIA) framework announced last year, which aims to speed up free
trade and promote investment.

"Besides stimulating investment in the ASEAN region, this
meeting will also encourage the role of the private sectors to
become more involved in investment activities," Staporn said.

"In addition, the meeting will strengthen the ties between
ASEAN investment agencies both at the ministerial level and among
heads of investment agencies."

He said the Phuket meeting would consider the creation of an
ASEAN investment database, joint investment promotions and
training programs for officials, plus a "liberalization
program" to reduce or eliminate all restrictions to investment.