ASEAN Need to Narrow Development Gap to Build Prosperous Community

By Sok Lak

ASEAN needs to narrow the development gap, so that the news member states can catch up with the old member states in order to build prosperous community, Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, Cambodian National Assembly President said during workshop on “Economy in ASEAN” on 27 July at National Assembly.

According to geography, ASEAN located between two super power counties, China and India, which is on progress in economy development and ASEAN also a very active and big international port with around 600 million people market. All of these are potential for ASEAN, but the development progresses among countries in ASEAN are inequality especially six members who is old members has high development, but the four new members (Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar and Vietnam) are far behind, he emphasized.

He added that the way to turn ASEAN to become an important economy and has important role with responsible to solve world economy, ASEAN need to work together to reduce poverty and the gap among members in ASEAN.

Beside the development gap, climate change also impact on world as well as countries among ASEAN.

Chap Sophal, President of the Cambodia Economic Association, said that among members in ASEAN, Cambodia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is very low. In 2009, Cambodia’s GDP per capital is only US$765, lower than Laos (US$940) and Vietnam (US$1,025).

In the past, ASEAN countries had done well to narrow development, but the war push Cambodia to get far behind other countries. “Cambodia has to work hard then Cambodia can move close to some countries in ASEAN,” he stated.

H.E Chheang Vun, Chairman of the Commission on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Media and Information of the National Assembly, said that culture of sharing is a key to reduce to development gap and promote economic development to be sustainable.

H.E Hang Chuonnaron, Secretary of State of Ministry of Economy and Finance, said that the ASEAN goal is to build ASEAN Community in 2015, but economy among member is not yet achieved and ASEAN still in weak condition. To achieve that goal, ASEAN need to achieve a sharing community.

As the equitable economic development in ASEAN, promotion of small and medium enterprises is the first program which focuses on human resource development, capacity building in marketing, access to credit and streamlining legal and regulatory framework. This program can use a lot of labor especially unskilled workers, so the gap may reduce. On other hand, ASEAN also need to focus on sector cooperation especially environment cooperation and natural dister management such as forest fire and protection marine environment, management of forests and protected areas, and climate change.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, July 31-August 6, 2011, Vol. 5, Issue 31, Page 5