ASEAN, Japan Map Out 10-Year Strategy

ASEAN and Japan have drawn up a 10 year strategic plan to drive economic growth by emphasizing the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Ms. Srirat Rastapana, Director-General of the Trade Negotiations Department, said ‘The ASEAN-Japan Strategic Economic Cooperation Roadmap 2012-2022’
aims to increase cooperation in trade of goods, services and investment between ASEAN and Japan. Japan further committing to help reduce the development gap
among ASEAN countries and promote quality living in the region and will be finalized within this month for signing by ASEAN and Japan’s economic ministers.

DG Rastapana further added that Thailand also has proposed plans to increase activities for development of farming, community products, as well as tourism growth and Japan has also been asked to transfer technology on steel industry development and logistics to ASEAN countries. According to the department, trade between ASEAN and Japan amounted to US$247.97 billion (Bt7.8 trillion). Of these, exports from ASEAN amounted to $124.8 billion, while imports were worth $123.17 billion. About 3.6 per cent of trade in goods between ASEAN and Japan has been under the free-trade pact.

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