Japan to meet with Asean on upcoming integration

MANILA, Philippines - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary General Le Luong Minh is set to meet with Japanese firms operating in the region in the Philippines in June to discuss concerns on the business environment as well as views on the region’s economic integration.

In a statement posted on its website, the ASEAN said the meeting is the 7th Dialogue between ASEAN Secretary General and the Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN (FJCCIA).

“The FJCCIA Dialogue will discuss the follow-up to issues and recommendations raised by the Japanese business community as well as provide them an opportunity to share their views and inputs on the ASEAN post-2015 scenario,” the statement read.

The dialogue, held every year since its commencement in 2008, provides a forum for Japanese businesses to raise issues on ASEAN economic integration.

The region aims to establish the ASEAN Economic Community or a single market economy with free movement of goods, services and investments throughout the region by December 2015.

For the forthcoming dialogue, the ASEAN Secretary General held discussions with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) chief representative for ASEAN and South Asia Setsuo Iuchi on the current progress of the ASEAN integration.

Issues of key importance to Japanese investors in the integration process including customs procedures, liberalization of services, protection of intellectual property rights, ASEAN+1 free trade agreements, harmonization of standards, infrastructure development, and small and medium enterprise development were also discussed.

ASEAN’s economic integration efforts command strong interest among Japanese investors.

The FJCCIA is an umbrella body representing 5,647 Japanese member companies based in ASEAN countries.

The ASEAN has a free trade agreement with Japan.

Japan is the second largest source of foreign direct investment inflow to ASEAN after the European Union.

In terms of trade, Japan remains the second largest partner of ASEAN.