The role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) global value chains (GVCs) is smaller than that in ASEAN GVCs and ASEAN connectivity through production is, therefore, also smaller, partly because RCEP is less integrated than ASEAN, according to a study by Tokyo-based ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC).
Ratifying a dubious regional economic deal is being touted as offering a miraculous solution to Malaysia’s lacklustre economic performance of the last quarter century. This naïve advocacy is misleading at best, and downright irresponsible, even reckless, at worst.
Hong Kong recently applied to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The underlying aim of RCEP is to create an integrated market across the region. RCEP accounts for roughly 30 per cent of the world’s output, trade and population.
In March 2022, Thailand officially launched the Flexible Plus Program in a bid to attract high-net-worth foreign investors.
Brunei Darussalam’s economy is projected to grow 5.8 per cent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest Regional Economic Outlook report.
The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will coordinate with Vietnam’s trade offices in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to organise a consulting session on rice exports.
ASEAN and the United States (U.S) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their dialogue relations at the 13th Meeting of the ASEAN-U.S. Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) held at the ASEAN Secretariat on 12 April.
As an effective regional governance structure, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gives a forum for Southeast Asian members to share ideas and reach provisional agreements. Bangladesh presently stands firmly at ASEAN’s west door, drawing even closer to China’s strategical periphery, thanks to the expansion of ASEAN to a ten-member grouping.
<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
