On behalf of ERIA, Ambassador Elizabeth Buensuceso, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN and Chair of CPR and ACCC, and Dr Rebecca briefed the ministers on 'Strategies to Deliver MPAC 2025'. One of the key messages was the need for closer coordination between AEC and MPAC; SEOM and ACCC as well as across pillars, especially at the working level. They also outlined the six strategic areas that need to be addressed: strong focus and targets; clear governance and ownership; clear and aligned plans; presence of core skills, incentives and finance; proactive stakeholder engagement; and robust performance management.

Prof Nishimura then thank the Ministers for providing the opportunity to present ERIA's work and noted that this Ministers Meeting was very special because the presentation on MPAC marked the first time AEM discussed the aligning AEC and MPAC 2025.

Dr Rebecca provided an update on the NTM Database including the ongoing work that needs to be done to update the database; the expansion of coverage to East Asia; the creation of Ad-Valorem Equivalents; and the creation of the NTM Database for Business which will be launched on the ERIA website soon.

Prof Nishimura closed ERIA's briefing to the Ministers by introducing the ASEAN@50 volumes and thanking the Ministers for their continued support.

ERIA was also very pleased to note the Ministers adopted the ASEAN Seamless Trade Facilitation Indicators (ASTFI) which are the product of a collaboration between ERIA, the ASEAN Trade Facilitation Joint Consultative Committee and the ASEAN Secretariat. The ASTFI will assist ASEAN member states to design policies and procedures that promote seamless import and export of goods.

The 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting Joint Media Statement noted ERIA's contributions several times:

Trade Facilitation

14. The Ministers adopted the ASEAN Seamless Trade Facilitation Indicators (ASTFI), which were designed to measure and monitor the extent to which trade facilitation measures are implemented in the region through various ASEAN agreements, such as the ATIGA, The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Goods in Transit (AFAFGIT) and the various sectoral work plans relevant to trade facilitation.

15. The Ministers underscored the importance of intensifying efforts to facilitate the movement of goods and services within the AEC. The Ministers adopted the AEC 2025 Trade Facilitation Strategic Action Plan (ATF-SAP) and agreed to submit this to the AEC Council for endorsement. The Ministers expressed confidence that the ATF-SAP, together with the ASTFI, would be vital in implementing the earlier decision made by the AEM on reducing trade transaction cost in the region by 10% in 2020, and thereafter endorsed the target of doubling intra-ASEAN trade by 2025. The Ministers also welcomed renewed efforts of the ASEAN Trade Facilitation Joint Consultative Committee (ATF-JCC) in engaging key stakeholders to explore how to further facilitate trade with a view to realising a single market and production base in the region.

Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

53. The Ministers welcomed ERIA's 5-volume ASEAN@50 publication, which included: (i) ASEAN and Member States: Transformation and Integration (Volume 3); and (ii) ASEAN Economic Community into 2025 and Beyond (Volume 5). The Ministers expressed their appreciation to ERIA and commended them for their contribution not only to developing the ASTFI but also to on-going efforts to address NTMs. The Ministers agreed that ASEAN Member States should continue to work with ERIA in, among others, verifying and regularly updating the ASEAN NTMs in the ERIA-UNCTAD NTM database, examining possible policy options for addressing NTMs, and implementing the ASTFI, including the conduct of the baseline study in 2018.

(See the full statement here).