Asean Towards 2015

ASEAN Towards 2015 and Beyond
This exhibition is about the development of ASEAN to become a single market by 2015. In 1992, the member nations agreed to implement an AFTA in order to achieve free trade area. In 2003, they agreed to establish pillar of integration: ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. In 2007, ASEAN Economic Ministers established the AEC blueprint that hope to achieve by 2015. The main purpose of AEC is to lead ASEAN to become a single market and production base which means free flow of goods, services, investment, skilled labor and freer flow of capital to make it become a highly competitive economic region and equitable economic development. By implementing trade liberalization makes some of our export goods gain advantage over other member nations and some not. To solve the problem, we must gain our competitiveness by increase average labor productivity and or use competitive price, try to gain your product value by using distinctiveness for manufacture products. Investment liberalization will attract other member in ASEAN to come and do the FDI in Thailand more and also is an opportunity for Thailand to access production inputs in member nations that have resources that we want. But the problem to be most worried about is the labor market. Because of liberalization, workers may move to a country that paid them higher, especially highly skilled labor (brain drain). Some sectors may not ready for this as lack of funds and managerial and language skills, they may lose competitiveness. This problem is likely to happen in Thailand.
SMEs are very important for ASEAN economies. They are the largest source of domestic employment across all economic sectors. A strong SME sector will ensure the sustainable, inclusive and broad-based economic and social development. Thus, the encouragement and promotion of competitive and innovative SMEs is necessary in contributing to greater economic growth...