自由贸易协定带来的挑战

Dec 2015 is the deadline until a free movement of goods, services and labor across the Southeast asian region. The potential is immense but the risks are also great.

This is Thomas’s family business started by his father from humble beginnings..his company, Delami now has over 900 outlets around the country, making it one of the biggest garment companies in Indonesia.

But with the plan of ASEAN economic community, that is a free flow of labor, goods and services across the 10 member countries, uniting the region as one economic power by 2015.

While the plan is sound, business players like Thomas has some concerns about the future.

“For 250 million people living here, this is the single biggest market in ASEAN. That’s primarily…. Not so much of a concern but I think we will take it as a competition. So we need just to focus on this market first, our market, which is our own backyard, we should be able to be the major players in our own market,”Farial said.

While the deadline is approaching fast, the challenges are a plenty.

For Indonesia, labor competitiveness is a major concern still, the worry is that with the borders are open, harsher competition will leave thousands unemployed.

While problems such as development gaps are still a threat for countries like Myanmar.

“We can say it is a challenge but at the same time because the domestic situation is not optimum yet its like a concern. Probably for some people, if the government said we’re ready, it means from their perspective, but now this is a homework for the new government. Do they believe that progress or they need to evaluate it first,”said Beginda Pakpahan, PhD,political & economic analyst, University of Indonesia.

Including bridging the gap between the policy makers and business players like Thomas.

“Of course there is information on paper itself but how it is going to impact us, how many Malaysian businessmen, or Thai Businessmen thinking to come to Indonesia and in what way, that is still a big question mark whether they will do that in a big way or not so,”Farial said.

And that, may be the biggest homework for the Association of nations, to ensure that businesses fully understand and take advantage, the dream of one ASEAN.