Plans to Reform Economy for Asean Integration
Cambodia’s newly appointed minister of commerce said Thursday that he plans to reform the country’s economy ahead of Cambodia’s entrance into the Asean Economic Community (AEC) 2015, though he and other officials did not say how they plan to accomplish that goal. Speaking to reporters on the first day of a two-day seminar about strengthening Cambodia’s competitiveness for regional economic integration, Minister of Commerce Sun Chanthol said Cambodia is “committed” to its role in AEC. … “Cambodia is very committed to fulfill its role and responsibility to create the AEC by 2015. We will prepare, through various reforms, to ensure that we will be a solid partner,” he said. The AEC will create a single market among the 10 Asean nations by 2015 that is competitive enough for the global economy. While economically advanced regional nations such as Indonesia and Singapore will have no problems integrating, they may be dragged down by the burden of the lackluster economic appeal of countries such as Cambodia. But Mr. Chanthol insisted that would change. “We will improve infrastructure. We will improve the institution. We will improve people’s connectivity. We will improve on education. We’re going to have more vocational training for people and we will also continue to attract more foreign direct investment to our country. We will make it more competitive for investors to come and do business through quick reform,” he said.
Hul Reaksmey and Joshua Wilwohl
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/plans-to-reform-economy-for-asean-integration-46469/
