Asean Striving For Free Flow Investments

MATARAM (Indonesia), Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Asean member states are striving for a free flow investments, a key element of single market and production base to make the region more dynamic and competitive, Indonesia's Antara reported, quoting Asean Secretariat senior official, Eddy Krismeidi Soemawilaga as saying on Wednesday.

In his statement on the sidelines of the fifth Asean Tourism Investment Forum (ATIF) here, Soemawilaga said a free flow investments is a key to improving Asean`s competitive edge and attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) and intra-Asean investments.

"Therefore, ATIF is one of the concrete efforts to increase investment in the tourism sector and spur economic growth and tourism development in the region," he said.

"The biennial event is particularly aimed at drawing up a map of tourism industry in the region as well as at enhancing friendship among Asean member states and three members of the trade and industry council, namely China, Japan and South Korea," he added.

The senior official also said that ATIF is also intended to introduce investment projects in the tourism sector to Asean member states.

"In an effort to develop Asean Economic Community (AEC), Asean has drawn up a roadmap for the integration of tourism sector in the region," he said, adding that the roadmap contains Asean Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2011-2015, supported by Asean ministries.

The ATIF 2012 which will end on Thursday is participated by delegates from six of 10 Asean member states, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The two-day event is also attended by participants from non-Asean member states, such as China.

Sourced: bernama