ASEAN Integration, soon or sooner?

The Association of South East Asian Nations, one of the most promising regional blocs in the world had spearheaded economic integration by 2015 (earlier date which was originally planned by 2020). This must be a welcome remark for all ASEAN nations, as the world prepares itself for stronger regional blocs to protect their own region against inflation threats, border security, counter-terrorism and further enhance regional peace, harmony and prosperity.

ASEAN in its concept is expected to promote stronger integration and unity among all the 10-member states so that the region can be a powerful house bloc as the EU, NAFTA or the Mercosur, as in all parts of the world. However, with all the regional blocs of the globe, ASEAN is the most promising to follow the steps of the EU and making it perhaps better, this is because ASEAN nations have more harmonious relationship than their European or Latin American counterparts.

There are several suggestions to this ASEAN integration among them:


1. Free Trade and single economic basket for ASEAN member nations. This is a welcome note and relatively acceptable because ASEAN has combined GDP of 896 Billion dollars. Our economy is not really on the downside because trading with our neighbors poses greater security, where our interests are closer and our economies more related than if we tie-up with nations stronger than we.
2. Borderless ASEAN, where, a single-visa for ASEAN is proposed, spearheaded by Thailand and Philippines, so that visitors may see ASEAN as single tourism destination, which will boost income on tourism.
3. Integration through open skies policies, liberalization in transport systems, by linking and creating modes of transportation by air, land and sea between and among the member nations.
4. Unification and standardization of laws which relate to ASEAN interests. This would spell out as common laws in areas of trade and economy, transportation, security and immigration, tourism and agriculture, among others. There must a be uniform law which will create a single ASEAN business and trade atmosphere among other tradesmen and businessmen within the region and those who would come outside the regional bloc.
5. The introduction of a common currency among ASEAN countries, whereby the currency will be a stronger currency against inflation against other foreign currencies. This is a lesson learned from the Asian Financial Crisis in the 90’s. The single currency (the earlier proposal is not really a currency but only a base currency)., will be the index for exchange, trade which will insulate the ASEAN against sharp depreciation of US dollars, or other monetary units.

However there are certain setbacks in the ASEAN integration among them are:

1. The various political conditions of each country. The military junta in Myanmar, the volatile democracies of Cambodia and Lao, the corruption raps in the Philippines and political situations (now restored) in Thailand are among of the key issues.

2. The different economic levels of ASEAN nations. The ASEAN is composed of nations from first to third world countries. The oil-rich Brunei Darussalam, and investment-hub Singapore, now emerging Malaysia are despairingly different from the economies of Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam, who have now promising economies, and the third group, Cambodia, Lao and Myanmar where economic progress must be encouraged well.

3. The protectionist economies of some member nations. The ASEAN, if it wants to succeed must create uniform laws on certain matters of transnational issues such as trade and tariffs, customs and borders, tourism and immigration and labour markets. With the integration, these issues and other will surely be touched down. No full integration can be achieved without these being discussed fully and liberalized in its most significant sense, for the protection of each member nation and for the further interest of the region.

4. The distance, borders and geographical features of ASEAN. Unlike in Europe, where EU nations are contiguous, ASEAN nations are separated by sea and land borders. However, these geophysical barriers can be eliminated by making free-travel and sky travel cheaper, and by introducing modes of transport that will link one nation to another.

5. Transnational issues of immigration policies, labor force, migration, residency and common issues that will confront ASEAN citizens. These realities may be well seen in the light of ordinary citizens of ASEAN. The security of employment, food security in the region, and security and peace are the most important issues to be discussed.

The Advantages of ASEAN and its viability to be self-sustaining


ASEAN can be a well-sustaining region unlike other regions in the world. First, ASEAN has geographical advantages and vast natural resources and to explore unlike other regional blocs in the globe. The efficient electronic systems of Singapore and its successful urban planning can be well integrated among all ASEAN countries, the agriculture and natural food resources of Thailand, Vietnam, and the agro-industrial produce of Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao. The electronic and human capital in the Philippines, plus all other hosts of industries, and the oil in Brunei and the rich supplies of raw materials such as rubber, wood etc in Malaysia make up a sustainable region. The vast and rich aquatic resources of Indonesia and the Philippines will all the more contribute within the food security in the region.

Peace and security is not at all a threat in the region. Its physical and geographical disadvantage is also its, an advantage. The physical attributes will not immediately affect other member nations, such as any untoward calamities (man-made or natural) will not directly affect the other member nations, that will not bring down the whole ASEAN system to collapse. The whole ASEAN also is only divided in 3 hours from 6:30 UTC to 9:00 UTC, this could be well united in one common time, +8:00 GMT, that is to unite the trade and all time differences necessary for tourism, exchange and communication.

ASEAN is a promising bloc, with the help of the leaders today of ASEAN, this integration can fully equip the developing member nations and to strengthen the pillar economies of the region.

Photo Credits: The ASEAN Logo, ASEAN Publication, ASEAN Map were all taken from wwww.aseansec.org