KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 (Bernama) — The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015 is still a work in progress and ASEAN member states are targeting to complete 95 per cent of the integration measures by the end of 2015. Ministry of International Trade and Industry senior director of ASEAN Economic Cooperation Division P. Ravidran said the economic ministers believe 95 per cent is doable by end-2015. “Ninety five per cent should mark a great achievement as nowhere in the world is there 100 per cent economic integration. “The five per cent short-fall is said to be implemented as a priority implementation measure in 2016,” he said at the Economic Diplomacy Series 1/2015 organised by the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia here today. On the status of the AEC implementation, Ravidran said the overall implementation rate for Phases I to III (2008-2013) is 80.7 per cent or 334 out of 414 ASEAN-wide measures. For ASEAN-wide Phase...

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Feb (Bernama) –Menteri-Menteri Ekonomi dari negara-negara anggota ASEAN akan berada di Kota Bharu, Kelantan dari 28 Februari - 1 Mac untuk menghadiri satu mesyuarat penting bagi merancang usaha-usaha ke arah penubuhan Komuniti Ekonomi ASEAN (ASEAN Economic Community – AEC). Pemukiman Menteri-Menteri Ekonomi ASEAN ke-21, salah satu daripada mesyuarat-mesyuarat ASEAN yang dianjurkan bersempena kepimpinan ASEAN oleh Malaysia pada 2015, akan dipengerusikan oleh Y.B. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri.  Menteri-Menteri Ekonomi ASEAN yang akan menghadiri Pemukiman ini adalah seperti di Lampiran A. Pemukiman yang merupakan acara tahunan ini kebiasaannya diadakan bertujuan untuk membolehkan Menteri-Menteri Ekonomi ASEAN menilai dan mengambil maklum tentang pencapaian keseluruhan proses integrasi serantau selain mempertimbang dan membincangkan inisiatif-inisiatif baru. Walau bagaimanapun, Pemukiman kali ini adalah sangat...

The 21st ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat, which will be held in Kota Baharu, Kelantan from February 28 to March 1, will focus on ensuring all core economic integration measures stipulated in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) blueprint are realized, according to Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

 

The AEC is scheduled to come into effect by December 31 this year. Photo: dangcongsan.vn The AEC is scheduled to come into effect by December 31 this year, intending to create a single market and production base in the region to further bolster ASEAN’s progress and prosperity. Recommendations from the private sector and concerns over a perceived increase in non-tariff barriers to trade in the region will also be main discussion points for the ministers. The ministers are also expected to consider and provide guidance on the draft of the Post-2015 Economic Vision and Plan for ASEAN, a critical deliverable as stakeholders expect the bloc to issue a new...

Kota Bharu: Pemukiman Menteri-Menteri Ekonomi ASEAN ke-21 yang berlangsung di sini, dijangka dapat memberi manfaat besar buat sektor ekonomi di negeri ini. Pengarah Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI) Kelantan, Azran Deraman berkata, program tiga hari yang bermula 27 Februari sehingga 1 Mac ini disertai 10 menteri ekonomi perkumpulan serantau berkenaan. “Kelantan bertuah dapat menjadi hos bagi program besar ini dan kami jangka penganjuran ini memberi manfaat dan peluang untuk Kelantan menjana ekonomi ke satu peringkat yang lebih baik. “Ia dapat memberi peluang kepada negara anggota ASEAN melabur di Kelantan. Selain itu, Kelantan sendiri dapat meneroka pasaran ASEAN yang besar, ia peluang terbaik untuk usahawan dan juga industri,” katanya kepada pemberita ketika meninjau persiapan program Pemukiman Menteri-Menteri Ekonomi ASEAN Ke-21 di sebuah hotel di sini, semalam. Azran berkata, 10 usahawan dipilih oleh MITI untuk terbabit dalam program itu yang...

Pemukiman Menteri-Menteri Ekonomi Asean ke-21 hujung minggu ini akan membincangkan kaedah memudahkan lagi perdagangan antara negara-negara Asean. Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed berkata program tersebut yang menjadi tempat percambahan minda menteri-menteri ekonomi Asean, akan mencari jalan mengurangkan karenah prosedur perdagangan supaya ia lancar dan menjimatkan masa. “Kita hendak bincang halangan-halangan perdagangan, bagaimana hendak permudahkan lagi perdagangan 2 hala selain membincangkan faedah yang bakal diperolehi. “Contohnya standard yang berlainan. Kalau kita hendak hantar barang yang sama ke pelabuhan berbeza di negara-negara Asean, ia perlu melalui beberapa prosedur dan ujian yang cukup ketat,” katanya pada sidang akhbar hari ini. Program pemukiman tersebut akan berlangsung dari 27 Februari hingga 1 Mac ini di sini. Mustapa juga berkata pemilihan Kota Baru sebagai lokasi penganjuran program itu untuk mempromosikan...

Ready to Attract Oil and Gas Players KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) — Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry today announced that Tok Bali Supply Base Sdn Bhd (TBSB) has obtained the following approvals for its operations: a. Ministry of Finance approval for its establishment of the Supply Base in Tok Bali, on 7th January 2015. b. Supply Base & Bonded Warehouse License approval under Section 65 & 65A dated 12th January 2015 from Royal Customs Department. c. ISPS certificate from Marine Department Malaysia for the period of 5 years starting from 15th January 2015 to 14th  January 2020 for bulk carrier and oil tanker facilities. d. Supply Base License for leasing and rental activities from PETRONAS dated 21st January 2015. With these approvals, TBSB is now in a position to move on and attract relevant oil & gas industry players to locate their operations in Tok Bali. Recently, TBSB signed a sub-lease and throughput agreement with Astral...

KOTA BAHARU, Feb 24 (Bernama) — The 21st ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat this weekend will discuss ways to facilitate trade among the region’s member nations, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. “We want to discuss trade barriers, how to facilitate two-way trade besides the benefits to be gained. “With different standards, for example, if we want to send the same good through different ports in ASEAN countries, it has to undergo quite stringent procedures and tests,” he said at a press conference to announce the programme for the retreat to be held here on Feb 27 to March 1. Mustapa said Kota Baharu was chosen as the venue for the retreat to enable Kelantan to be promoted as a progressive trade, investment and tourism destination. “Through the programme, Kelantan will be better known and this will bring a positive impact to the state in terms of tourism, trade and investment, while opening a wider market in ASEAN countries...

KOTA BARU: Asean senior officials have expressed confidence that the draft of the Post-2015 Economic Vision and Plan will be completed by the middle of the year. International Trade and Industry Deputy Ministry Secretary-General (Trade) Mohd Rizal Sheriff said the draft would spell out a new and bold plan to chart the direction for deeper regional integration for the 2016-2025 period. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Eight Meeting of High-Level Task Force on Asean Economic Integration here yesterday, he said the discussion on the preparation of the draft was progressing well and the commitment from the 10 member countries was very strong. “The meeting has been going on for almost a year now and we are quite optimistic about the next 10 years. “We hope that the final draft document will be ready for internal perusal before it is announced by the leaders in November,” he said. Bernama reported that Mohd Rizal, who chaired the meeting, said although the draft...

GEORGE TOWN (Feb 28): Penang moved up one notch to the third spot with the highest number of approved investments in the country last year, after Johor and Sarawak. Penang approved local and foreign investments totalling RM8.2 billion in 2014, a 109% jump from the previous year. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state approved foreign investments amounting to RM5.1 billion and RM3.04 billion in  domestic investments last year. “In 2013, our total proposed capital investment was RM3.9 billion and we were ranked No. 4,” he told a news conference to announce the investment figures released by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) yesterday. “This (2014) is good results, although it is more important that we receive quality investments. “It should not be typical industries but those that can add value, be high-tech and are knowledge intensive,” Lim said. He added that the investments in Penang were widely distributed between local and foreign businesses...