Prospects of a greater ASEAN

Considering the situation currently prevailing in the Asia- Pacific region, a broadening of ASEAN's membership is indeed a most appropriate move. The joining of Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia will have considerable political and economic significance, although that does not necessarily mean that products from other ASEAN countries will dominate the markets in those three countries.

We are rather pessimistic about (Indonesia's) ability to penetrate the markets in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. It is well- known that Indonesian businessmen orient themselves mainly toward more traditional markets, such as those of the United States, Japan and Europe. In those traditional markets, the need for intensively cultivating business partners is practically non- existent.

A number of other founders of ASEAN, such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, motivated by the considerable market potentials in those three countries mentioned earlier, have already developed business ties with them. Trade figures show that those ties are displaying a rising trend. In business, though, there is no such thing as being too late, especially since Indonesia's historical ties with those countries are excellent.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta