The survey was based on certain sectors, not all of them."Purwokerto, Central Java (ANTARA News) - Indonesia said it is ready to work with the ASEAN Community in 2015, despite a survey indicating only three countries are prepared to participate in the regional organization.
"The survey was based on certain sectors, not all of them. There is not total readiness, but there are certain sectors in some countries that are better than other countries," said Foreign Ministry official Henk Edward Saroinsong here Friday.
Based on the survey, the three best-prepared countries are Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Henk said that Indonesia is ready to participate in the ASEAN Community by 2015, although Indonesia`s SME export performance is low compared to many countries.
"With the ASEAN free market, we need to prepare ourselves, need to improve the country`s competitiveness and production quality," he said
According to Henk, the Indonesian Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives should take steps to explain the existing regulations to create Indonesian synergy with the ASEAN agreement.
Henk said that the 2015 ASEAN Community is based upon three pillars; political and security, economic, and social and cultural.
Further, according to Henk, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia has become the leading country in cooperating with the ASEAN Community by 2015.
Therefore, the government has taken steps to address the ASEAN Community by 2015 under the Presidential Instruction No.5 of 2008 on Economic Focus Program, Presidential Instruction No.11 of 2011 on the Implementation of Commitments ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint, and Presidential Decree No.23 Year 2012 on Membership composition of the ASEAN National Secretariat.
(Uu.INE/S012/KR-BSR/S012)
Reporter: Sumarwoto
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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