DTI Assistant Secretary: Realization of RCEP to Boost ASEAN’s Position in the Asia-Pacific Region
SINGAPORE 02 July 2018 – Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Anna Robeniol was the speaker on the 17th ASEAN Lecture Series on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute on 08 June 2018.
Assistant Secretary Robeniol shared her personal observations on the progress, outstanding issues, and outlook on the ongoing RCEP negotiations. The lecture was moderated by Dr. Sanchita Basu Das of the ASEAN Studies Center at ISEAS.
In her key message, Assitant Secretary Robeniol mentioned that the launch of RCEP negotiations in 2012 is perhaps the single, biggest, most challenging undertaking the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has embarked on because it aims to bring together and integrate economies not only with divergent levels of economic development, but also different political ideologies, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Concluding the negotiations especially at the time of global uncertainties such as rising protectionism, growing anti-globalization sentiments and looming trade wars would, without a doubt, reinforce the role of ASEAN in shaping the emerging political-economic order in the Asia-Pacific region.
Assistant Secretary Robeniol also serves as the Philippines Lead on RCEP negotiations. END
For more information, visit www.singaporepe.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippine-embassy.org.sg or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSingapore.