More Effort Needed for Asean Unity, Hun Sen Says

28 August 2012
The Cambodia Daily
Economy and commerce / Trade / Trade policy and regulation
ASEAN / ASEAN Economic Community / ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting / ASEAN Infrastructure Fund / ASEAN Integration / ASEAN nations / Asian Development Bank (ADB) / economic cooperation / economic gap / Economics / free marlket / Infrastructure development / Infrastructure projects / Prime Minister Hun Sen

Countries in the region need to move faster to reduce the economic gaps between Asean nations if they are to successfully integrate and establish the Asean Economic Community by 2015, Prime Minister Hun Sen said yesterday. Speaking at the 44th Asean Economic Ministers' Meeting in Siem Reap, Mr. Hun Sen said countries in the bloc need to improve their connectivity and make sure their private sectors can compete with each other so that the poorer countries are not left behind once the region becomes a free market. ... Even though the Asian Development Bank has pledged $500 million as a part of the Asean Infrastructure Fund, the amount of money for roads and other infrastructure is still not enough in the region, Mr. Hun Sen said. ...