One of the AEC’s goals – the reduct

One of the AEC's goals – the reduction of tariffs on physical goods trade amongst ASEAN countries has largely been realized, with the exception of sensitive product categories like rice. This is a remarkable achievement. Progress on liberalizing non-tariff barriers, movements of persons and capital as well as trade in services are lagging behind, but may catch up in 2014 and 2015. The liberalization in trade in goods has already yielded results. In 2011, 25% of ASEAN's total merchandise trade was intra-regional. The bloc's most open economies – Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand – are leading this intra-regional trade. Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, and Laos are also seeing sharp increases in their trade-to-GDP ratios, which are now close to 100%. The remaining three countries – Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar – have a relatively lower trade-to-GDP ratio; indicating large potential for increased intra-regional trade, given the size of the Indonesian economy. That's how will AEC 2015 benefit investors. Another benefit the AEC brings is its positioning of ASEAN as a single market. According to the IMF, there has been an increasing trend of intra-regional trade being influenced by final consumer demand. This suggests that consumption will become a significant driver of ASEAN integration in future. This will likely be driven by the growth of middle-income consumers in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

One of the AEC's goals - the reduction of tariffs on physical goods trade amongst ASEAN countries has largely been realized, with the exception of sensitive product categories like rice. This is a remarkable achievement. Progress on liberalizing non-tariff barriers, movements of persons and capital as well as trade in services are lagging behind, but may catch up in 2014 and 2015. The liberalization in trade in goods has already yielded results. In 2011, 25% of ASEAN's total merchandise trade was intra-regional. The bloc's most open economies - Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand - are leading this intra-regional trade. Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, and Laos are also seeing sharp increases in their trade-to-GDP ratios, which are now close to 100%. The remaining three countries - Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar - have a relatively lower trade-to-GDP ratio; indicating large potential for increased intra-regional trade, given the size of the Indonesian economy. That's how will AEC 2015 benefit investors. Another benefit the AEC brings is its positioning of ASEAN as a single market. According to the IMF, there has been an increasing trend of intra-regional trade being influenced by final consumer demand. This suggests that consumption will become a significant driver of ASEAN integration in future. This will likely be driven by the growth of middle-income consumers in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

One of the AEC 's goals - the reduction of tariffs on physical goods trade amongst ASEAN countries has largely, been realized. With the exception of sensitive product categories like rice. This is a remarkable achievement. Progress on liberalizing. Non-tariff barriers movements of, persons and capital as well as trade in services are, lagging behind but may catch up. In 2014 and 2015.The liberalization in trade in goods has already yielded results. In 2011 25% of, ASEAN 's total merchandise trade was, intra-regional. The bloc 's most open economies - Singapore Malaysia and Thailand -,, are leading this intra-regional trade. Vietnam Cambodia,,, Brunei and Laos, are also seeing sharp increases in their trade-to-GDP ratios which are, now close to 100%.The remaining three countries - Indonesia the Philippines, and Myanmar - have a relatively lower trade-to-GDP ratio; indicating. Large potential for increased intra-regional trade given the, size of the Indonesian economy. That 's how will AEC 2015 benefit. Investors. Another benefit the AEC brings is its positioning of ASEAN as a single market. According to, the IMFThere has been an increasing trend of intra-regional trade being influenced by final consumer demand. This suggests that. Consumption will become a significant driver of ASEAN integration in future. This will likely be driven by the growth of. Middle-income consumers in Indonesia Thailand and, the Philippines.