"we will ratify it soon and hopefully the agreement will come into force in the region before November 2011," said Gusmardi after attending the ASEAN Senior Official Meeting today as preparatory event before the 43rd ASEAN Economic Ministerial Meeting starting next August 10-14 in Manado.
He said the ACIA had actually been signed since 2009, but to taken into force, all 10 member states must ratify it. Up till now, only two countries had yet ratify the ACIA namely Indonesia and Thailand.
The Trade Ministry`s Director for ASEAN Cooperation Iman Pambagyo said the reason why Indonesia had yet ratify the ACIA was because the agreement recorded some negative investment lists when it was signed in 2009 while Indonesia had just released its own negative investment list.
"It takes time to synchronize the ACIA`s list and ours. But I am optimistic that we will soon ratify it," said Iman.
However he reminded that to make ACIA taken into force across the region, Thailand must also ratify it. He said Thailand had yet ratify the agreement due to internal matter regarding the changing of governmental leader.
Asked about the implication to the region if ACIA is taken into force, Iman said it would ease off investors coming from ASEAN member states to do business in other ASEAN countries.
(T.A051/H-NG/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
