Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) is another important initiative in ASEAN integration on trade in services.  MRAs can facilitate trade in services by mutual recognition of authorization, licensing, or certification of professional service suppliers.  The goal of the MRA is to facilitate the flow of foreign professionals taking into account relevant domestic regulations and market demand conditions. MRAs are arrangements between 2 or more parties to mutually recognize or accept some or all aspects of one another’s conformity with assessment results.

At the 7th ASEAN Summit held on 5 November 2001 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, ASEAN Heads of States/Governments mandated the start of negotiations on MRAs to facilitate the flow of professional services under AFAS.  The ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Services (CCS) established an Ad-hoc Expert Group on MRAs under its Business Services Sectoral Working Group in July 2003 to begin negotiations on MRAs in services.  Subsequently, the CCS established the Healthcare Sectoral Working Group in March 2004, which undertook negotiations on MRAs in the healthcare sector under its regular agenda. 

8 MRAs have been concluded signed by ASEAN, namely:

These MRAs enable the professional services suppliers certified or registered by the relevant authorities in their home country to be mutually recognized by other signatory Member States.  They are currently in various stages of implementation and follow-up initiatives, with mechanisms being established to administer the implementation of the MRAs.