BANGKOK — Intra-regional trade among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states should increase from 25 percent at present to 40 percent of its total trading value in order to ensure sustainable growth, ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said Tuesday.
Speaking at the ASEAN Business Forum on “Toward AEC 2015: Where we are now?”, Surin said that following the development of infrastructure and trade facilitation, non-ASEAN enterprises are looking for increasing trade and investment opportunity in the region, driven by strong growth path.
ASEAN enterprises should urgently enhance their competitiveness and infrastructure to ensure business growth.
He urged ASEAN to increase the intra-regional trade from only US$400 billion, which is rather small compared to its trade with the world which amounts to US$1.7 trillion. Each ASEAN member must cooperate by seriously liberalizing its market, increasing connectivity and eliminating non-tariff barriers instead of competing against each other. This will help boost trade in the region and help achieve the single market goal by 2015.
It’s women’s month!
“Support women every day of the year!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and Made-in-the-Philippines
Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
Mar 4— Employee Appreciation Day
Mar 15 — World Consumer Rights Day
Mar 18 — Global Recycling Day
Mar 21 — International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Mar 23 — International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
Mar 25 — International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Mar 27 — Earth Hour
