Economic ministers of the 10-member

Economic ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will face a historic opportunity to meet in Cambodia divided from 1 to 5 September to consider the establishment a common ASEAN economic community by 2020. It seems that there is sufficient reason to set up such an organization, but the results of the meeting did not show a sign of certainty. 
Capital was formed in 1967 as a bloc of 5 member states in the region to combat the risk at the time was said to be the rise of communism in Southeast Asia, Asean today faced with a crisis of ego. The current threat to the regional economy also seems serious and no less urgent threats nearly 40 years ago has been the reason for forming this nation block.Asean's response to these risks may present will determine the continued existence in the future of it or, as some analysts commented, Asean will become no longer supportive. 
Facing competition from China and India, ASEAN is faced with the risk of failure in achieving long-term objectives: integration of member countries to become a single market that is attractive to the home Foreign investment. Namely, the economic ministers meeting in Phnom - Penh in early September will debate whether to give Asea become a single economic block and sticking to more than 500 million people or not. Then they will take the proposal to the Heads of State, scheduled to meet in Bali (Indonesia) at the two-day 7th and October 8th in the annual summit of Asean. 
Increasingly, there is a consensus between the political and economic experts in areas that do not have much time to Asean give a detailed integration plan and strong enough if not lagging far. Mr. Rodolfo, who resigned in December after five years as Asean secretary general, said: "The multinational corporation doing business investment no longer satisfied with the national market as well. The decision to go to this right is extremely important '. 

Indonesia's support BRING KEY PROPERTIES 
Political analysts capita when calculating whether a sufficient majority needed in Asean favor regional integration or comments that only Thailand and Singapore that are excited about the change. Among the rest of the analysts said that Brunei will indulge and may Malaysia may follow. But African-Philippines and Indonesia are 'cautiously expressed a new attitude', said in the words of one analyst. The new member countries - including Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam - are worried about competitiveness if forced to open up their economies. This is a potential problem by Asean capital works on the principle of consensus. 
Ultimately, only the intervention critical of Indonesia, the country's first long ship Asean is also the host of the summit this year (2003), the appliance can save Asean from the scene more years eclipsed politics. Does that happen? Past experience provides one reason for pessimism.Nevertheless, economists Indonesians, Hadi Soesatro remain optimistic - though this view clearly in the minority. He cited recent comments by President Sukarnoputri Megawti support 'a new structure for the economic integration of Asean'. He concluded as follows: 'I think there will be consensus at the summit next Bali'. 
A decade ago, South-East Asia have recognized the urgent need to form an economic community closer to making agreements Free Trade Area (AFTA). But the progress made ​​was disappointing. Evidence is that, while the old member states plan to eliminate 60% ​​of tariffs on their products before this year, according to the Secretariat, the ASEAN, the Philippines, only reached a mere pin Thailand 3.66% to just 4.2%.
Worth more upset is that some countries withdrew initial commitments on tariff reductions, including the Malaysian car industry, with rice and sugar Indonesia and Philippines battery with rice and products Petrochemical. 
Stories such trade protection has contributed to the emergence of statements about a business environment unfriendly in other regions of the Southeast Asia region. "The clear message of the investors is that they do not recognize a real ... Asean market but instead a bunch of disparate 10 market generally separate, 'a report by consulting firm International Management, McKinsey & Co., wrote. 
This report, by the agency ordered Asean Secretariat, led to the economic ministers established a high-level task force in September last year to assess the problem more comprehensively. This department also used two of the groups report the Southeast Asian scholar, and both reports conclude that the Asean Economic Community is the logical continuation of the current efforts of the block. 
Sadly, despite the remote remarks that Indonesia could prove a key role, most experts still doubt that Asean would discourage political will as it has so far. The more indecisive the cost will be more expensive. That 'the world is never standing still', just as