SEMINAR ON Malaysian Institute of Economic Research Malaysia’s Mettle of Leadership: -Setting the Agenda for Change -Achieving the Promise of the ASEAN Economic Community THURSDAY, JANUARY 29TH, 2015 AT THE ROYALE CHULAN, DAMANSARA A PRELUDE Caught between Two Industrial Juggernauts –the American eagle and the Chinese dragon. Malaysia holds the chairmanship of ASEAN this year. As such, the international community will closely watch her economic and financial policies aside from her foreign policy. We are also caught between the two Industrial Juggernauts of our times, the USA and China. For the record, US President Barack Obama and the then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left no doubts at the APEC meeting they hosted in Honolulu in November 2011 about the drivers behind the TPPA. The US aims to revive its geopolitical, strategic and economic influence in the Asian region to counter the ascent of China, in part through constructing a region-‐wide legal regime that serves the interests of, and is enforceable by, the US and its corporations. Expanding on her article entitled ‘America’s Pacific Century’ in the November 2011 issue of Foreign Policy magazine, Clinton said the security and economic challenges that currently confront the Asia-‐Pacific ‘demand America’s leadership’. Officials described the US role as ‘the anchor of stability in the region’, committed to ‘managing the relationship with China, economically and militarily’. The TPP feeds directly into the already strong suspicion in China that the US seeks to contain their economic emergence, despite what US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton might say to the contrary. China had, after all, already outlined its own preferred modes of deepening regional engagement, notably the ASEAN plus 3 and ASEAN plus 6 groupings. Meanwhile the official media in China has begun espousing this containment line, as well as expressing annoyance that China was not invited to participate in the TPP. GENESIS As ASEAN begins its fifth decade of existence the expectations remain heightened that 2015 may be the year that the Grouping of ten South East Asian member-‐nations will bask under the glow of a few significant accomplishments. Foremost of these accomplishments is the establishment of AEC: a testimony of intent to forge a common market covering a geographical land mass of 4.4 million square kilometers, a population base of 620 million doing business and international trade worth close to USD 1 trillion. By 2017 the latter is expected to expand to USD 2.3 trillion accounting for almost 25% of global international trade. Oftentimes the formative AEC in terms of its potential and real value to all and sundry that have an interest in ASEAN is compared to EU-‐an experiment of close to 30 years in economic integration-‐ common market, governance structures as well as common currency. A success of sorts though beleaguered with a number of legacies and geopolitical issues of late. The future of AEC beckons the brightest, the entrepreneurial set and of course the nimble and profitable conglomerates as well as small & medium enterprises. What does all this potential and hyperbole mean? Dreams are made of planned commitments and expressions of interests of course. It is this opportunity to create a forum for exchange of ideas, debate relevant and pertinent issues; to listen, converse and raise questions; to debate and engage in a meaningful discourse that this seminar on AEC (and its co-‐ joint twin seminar on risk assessment management running in parallel) is organized. WHO SHOULD ATTEND WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND This capacity building seminar is for: The seminar aims to enable participants to better: • • • • Chambers of Commerce (Malay, Chinese, Indian, Islamic, International) – President & Committee Member in charge of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) activities. Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) members. Government Officers and Professional Associations. Public & Private University faculty members and post-‐graduates. • • • • • Better understanding on the framework of risk. Given additional tool in accessing risk. The tool that will be introduced in this seminar has a proven track record and can be used globally in any circumstances. Hands on and practical exposure on the tool, will be coached by the speaker. Provide networking across many sectors in Malaysia. Register Now! Fees: RSVP (603) 2142 5897/5895/0091 Fax: (603) 21410131 E-‐mail: [email protected] (Pn. Isnani) [email protected] (Mrs.Kala) RM 100.00 for postgraduate students (limited places) RM 400.00 for early bird & RM 800.00 for delegates REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Registered by January 26,2015 SEMINAR PROGRAMME DATE January 29, 2015 TIME 9:00 am to 5.30 pm VENUE The Royale Chulan, Damansara Time Topic Speaker 08:30-‐9:00 am Registration 09:00-‐9:15 am Opening Ceremony Official Opening by YBhg Tan Sri Dr Sulaiman Mahbob Chairman, Board of Trustees, MIER 09:15-‐09:45 am The road to AEC, genesis, development and implementation of the AEC Blueprint. 09:45-‐10:15 am Comparing and Contrasting regional economic integration – from Customs Union to Economic and Monetary Union 10:15-‐10:45 am AEC Scorecard & Roadmap 10:45-‐11:15 am Coffee Break 11:15-‐11:45 am AEC Blueprint and Compliance with Roadmap Ahmad Hisham Idris Director, ASEAN Economic Cooperation Division Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia Dr. Mohamed Aslam Bin Gulam Hassan Senior Lecturer Department of Economics Faculty of Economics and Administration University of Malaya Dr. Shankaran Nambiar Senior Research Fellow Malaysian Institute of Economic Research 11:45-‐12:15 pm Question & Answer Ahmad Hisham Idris/Moktar Idham Musa ASEAN Economic Cooperation Division Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia Invited speakers & MIER experts 12:15-‐02:15 pm Lunch Break 02:15-‐02:45 pm Example of Progress in AEC –A Case-‐Study: Trade Facilitation and Logistics Abdul Khalid Dato' Abdul Aziz/ Noor Faizawati Badarudin Malaysian Institute of Economic Research 02:45-‐03:15 pm Case-‐Study: Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) and Standards & Conformance Dr Zulkiply Omar Senior Research Fellow Malaysian Institute of Economic Research 03:15-‐03:45 pm ASEAN Rising Beyond 2015: Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN –Setting the agenda for leadership 03:45-‐4:15 pm Overview of ASEAN Integration, AEC, TPP and RCEP. Full integration into the Global Economy –Fourth Pillar of AEC 04:15-‐4:45 pm Question & Answer Dr. Zakariah Abdul Rashid Executive Director Malaysian Institute of Economic Research 04:45-‐05:30 pm Tea & Adjournment Datuk M Supperamaniam ISIS Distinguished Fellow Invited speakers & MIER experts REGISTRATION FORM Fees: * RM 400.00 each for early bird registration (by 21st January 2015) * RM 800.00 each for delegates * RM 100.00 each for post-‐graduate students (limited seats) The fee is HRDF claimable and it includes presentation material, refreshment and lunch. All registration must be received by MIER not later than 26th January 2015. Cancellations and refunds will not be made after that date. However, substitution will be allowed if made at least 72 hours before the Seminar. Name: Mr/Ms___________________________Designation_________________________ Organization: _______________________________________________________________ Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Contact Person: ___________________________________Tel No: __________________________________ Fax No: _____________________________ Email: _________________________________________________ (If there are more than one participant from the same organization, please attach a separate list). Please tick ( √ ) at the appropriate box: ❏ Early bird & postgraduate ❏ Delegates Payment details: 1) Please invoice accordingly 2) Enclosed is a crossed-‐cheque (No.) _______________________ for the amount of MYR ________________ made payable to the MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH ____________________________ Date: ____________________________________ Signature of contact person and company stamp (RSVP (603) 2142 5897, 2142 5895, 2142 0091, Fax: (603) 21410131 E-‐mail: [email protected]/[email protected] (Attn: Pn. Isnani /Mrs. Kala by 26th January 2015) Malaysian Institute of Economic Research JKR 606, Jalan Bukit Petaling, 50460 Kuala Lumpur