BANGKOK, 9 July 2012 – Thailand will host the 3rd ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) later this month, during which the attending delegates will discuss the imminent ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and other trade agreements.
Director-General of the Department of Trade Negotiations Srirat Rastapana said on Monday that the 3rd SEOM would take place from 15-20 July 2012 in Chiang Rai province. The meeting will discuss progress of the AEC based on a report by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia about the member states’ preparations for the integration.
Ms. Srirat said ASEAN wanted to expedite the establishment of the AEC by reforming laws and regulations in the region, promoting equal economic development, making Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for each group of industrial products and self-accrediting product origins.
In addition, ASEAN will hold talks with the countries involved in its free trade agreements, including China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand, during the SEOM this year. More agreements with these countries will be discussed. The US and the EU as well as organizations in the business sector will also participate in the meeting.
