Jakarta (VNA) –👍 The seventh ASEAN EconomicCommunity (AEC) Dialogue took place online on February 17 to discuss thefindings and recommendations in the ASEAN Business Sentiment Study 2020/2021,which gauged ongoing sentiment of the ASEAN indigenous enterprises towards theimplementation of the AEC Blueprint 2025.

The study delved deeper into the sentiment on services tradeliberalisation, focusing on key service sectors such as the financial servicesand tourism services. In his opening remarks, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEANfor AEC Satvinder Singh revealed that the study shows the majority ofindigenous enterprises are pleased with the current integration level and lookforward to the further enhancement and expansion of the integrationinitiatives. He noted some areas for improvements identified in thestudy, particularly on the challenges of indigenous enterprises in gettingaccess to information and understanding of the ASEAN initiatives and agreements,so that they can further take advantage of ASEAN’s prevailing trade andinvestment facilitation. Deputy Director General of International Trade Khuon Virak,from the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, also shared priority economicdeliverables under Cambodia’s Chairmanship 2022 to the private sector. The discussion highlighted the need to simplify licensingprocedures to promote regional investment, harmonisation of data sharingregulations, upskilling digital talent, and creating conducive policy ecosystemto accelerate ASEAN’s indigenous enterprises’ business growth. Meanwhile, the panel discussion on tourism servicesunderlined the low awareness of Mutual Recognition Arrangement for TourismProfessional and the need to accelerate the reopening of the border in a safemanner to restart the tourism industry post COVID-19 pandemic. Both discussions noted the attraction of ASEAN to globalinvestors and affirmed that further integration will boost the financial andtourism sector even further./.