Anyone knows what happen to the AEC - Asean Economic Community?

[Froggy]

There's been a lot of talk and article published about the Asean Economic Community (AEC) past few years climaxing at the very end of last year when it really happened on 1/1/2016.

Been almost 2 months and not heard anything happening like eliminating of taxes of goods and ease of export and import with each other, free movement of skilled labor etc.

I wonder if I am the only one who could not notice any changes, anyone of you have seen any changes?

​

 

[Rogue Trader]

The economic community is bound to fail... most of these countries can't even get their own house in order, what kind of international collaboration would there be?

The only success so far is the military alliance with USA

 

[winnipegjets]

ASEAN common market is a myth. There is gains to be realized by any of the country in this common market as most of the countries are dependent on low cost to compete. Sinkapore is the only rich country there but it is such a tiny market that imports only produce from the other countries.

Where is the basis for a common market?

 

[JohnTan]

I hope AEC happens soon enough. I would like to hire more skilled PMETs from Vietnam, Philippines and Cambodia. My company would also benefit from the open markets of the ASEAN region.

 

[winnipegjets]

I hope AEC happens soon enough. I would like to hire more skilled PMETs from Vietnam, Philippines and Cambodia. My company would also benefit from the open markets of the ASEAN region.

Only unpatriotic sinkees would wish for the AEC to be realized. May you be beheaded by ISIS.

 

[rocket]

Pass away last year in thailand

 

[eErotica69]

There's been a lot of talk and article published about the Asean Economic Community (AEC) past few years climaxing at the very end of last year when it really happened on 1/1/2016.

Been almost 2 months and not heard anything happening like eliminating of taxes of goods and ease of export and import with each other, free movement of skilled labor etc.

I wonder if I am the only one who could not notice any changes, anyone of you have seen any changes?

​

The Thai are talking about AEC. But Singaporeans doesn't care.

 

[mojito]

The Thai are talking about AEC. But Singaporeans doesn't care.

Simple. That must be because Singaporeans stand to gain from the treaty! For that we have to thank the PAP.

 

[johnny333]

I am hoping that the AEC will make it easier for me to stay in Thailand.

Prefer to avoid the red tape of getting a retirement visa or using the excuse of learning thai to stay in Thailand.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Only unpatriotic sinkees would wish for the AEC to be realized. May you be beheaded by ISIS.

or assasinated by the other ISIS - israeli secret investigation services.

 

[Froggy]

Do you know that for the past few years culminating to the AEC launch many Thais, Indonesians and perhaps the Laos and Myanmar people too spent millions of dollars to learn English in preparation for AEC as their respective government told them AEC's medium of language is English.

 

[johnny333]

English is more appropriate for the AEC because it is easier than languages like mandarin which is one of the hardest languages to learn.

PAP really made life difficult for school kids when they decided to forced mandarin down their throats.

 

[frenchbriefs]

Do you know that for the past few years culminating to the AEC launch many Thais, Indonesians and perhaps the Laos and Myanmar people too spent millions of dollars to learn English in preparation for AEC as their respective government told them AEC's medium of language is English.

why english when theres no caucasian countries?we should learn jap instead like the greater co prosperity sphere.

 

[mojito]

English is more appropriate for the AEC because it is easier than languages like mandarin which is one of the hardest languages to learn.

PAP really made life difficult for school kids when they decided to forced mandarin down their throats.

English is good, but unfortunately global economy in downturn. When it upturn FTs all be glad. Middle class work requires Ingerish, AEC or no. Mandarin is for factory floor workers and menial labourers. Sinkies of all races should learn mandarin to fit in to their lot in society.

 

[eatshitndie]

or assasinated by the other ISIS - israeli secret investigation services.

do you mean intelligence services?

 

[johnny333]

English is good, but unfortunately global economy in downturn. When it upturn FTs all be glad. Middle class work requires Ingerish, AEC or no. Mandarin is for factory floor workers and menial labourers. Sinkies of all races should learn mandarin to fit in to their lot in society.

So tell me how have the "lesser mortals" benefited from learning mandarin
Don't forget that Sporeans gave up the ability to communicate in dialects.

Other than communicating with the masses of PRC workers in Spore I can't think of any benefits. Sporeans were forced to learn to read & write at an academic level higher than even the PRC nationals. It's ironic that many of these PRC working in Spore can't even speak english.

Another example of the PAP kiasuism that has screwed the "lesser mortals" of Spore. What about communicating with the indians, filipinos, indonesians, Burmese,...?

The choice of language is a personal choice & should not be forced on people. LKY was a hypocrite. He expected the "lesser mortals" to sink or swim but when it came to his own grandson, the grandson was sent to the american school. This is not an option to the "lesser mortals"

 

[Agoraphobic]

Yes. It is a myth. Just a hope, because collectively it is a large number, BUT a large portion of the population is poor. The largest nation within ASEAN is Indonesia, and from the looks of it, they aren't bothered with what happens elsewhere in the world. They have a large enough population worth supplying. Internal economics outweighs global or even regional issues. Besides the low affluence, the region does not hold much confidence for foreign investors (with radical extremist religious groups scattered all over the place), and many locals looking back into their own history/culture for comfort. Most ASEAN countries only possess primary products, waiting for foreign companies to exploit. This is where they shine.

Cheers!

ASEAN common market is a myth. There is gains to be realized by any of the country in this common market as most of the countries are dependent on low cost to compete. Sinkapore is the only rich country there but it is such a tiny market that imports only produce from the other countries.

Where is the basis for a common market?

 

[yahoo55]

There's been a lot of talk and article published about the Asean Economic Community (AEC) past few years climaxing at the very end of last year when it really happened on 1/1/2016.

Been almost 2 months and not heard anything happening like eliminating of taxes of goods and ease of export and import with each other, free movement of skilled labor etc.

I wonder if I am the only one who could not notice any changes, anyone of you have seen any changes?

PAP is probably the biggest advocator of AEC because they think they will get to be middlemen of an open and tax-free ASEAN market. But our neighbors such as Thailand and Malaysia are not stupid, they did not remove the barriers and import taxes for their home market to Singapore.

To do business in Thailand and Malaysia, companies are moving to our neighbors instead because it's much cheaper to do so. That's one of the reasons why Singapore's exports have been crashing, and expensive Singapore's importance to the region's trade has been diminishing.

 

[KuanTi01]

Do you know that for the past few years culminating to the AEC launch many Thais, Indonesians and perhaps the Laos and Myanmar people too spent millions of dollars to learn English in preparation for AEC as their respective government told them AEC's medium of language is English.

When it was finally and officially launched, all the years of anticipation and hype turned into a whimper. What a shame! I was hoping for a sea change. For it to work effectively and meaningfully, it will require Asean leaders/politicians to walk the talk and transform the grand concept into a basic day-to-day reality where the peoples of Asean can work and play across borders freely in every sense of the word. Some countries appear to be less enthusiastic worrying instead of how they will lose out in the AEC. Only Thailand seems to be openly and actively promoting it currently; although changes are so far cosmetic and have little noticeable impact. The AEC sounds so nice! Hopefully it means something in the near future.

 

[GoldenDragon]

do you mean intelligence services?

Apologies. Thanks for pointing out my error.