ASEAN

Why the ASEAN economic integration is beneficial for every Juan

News about the ASEAN is all over, day in and day out, but many still have no idea on what the
ASEAN truly is or how the Philippines’ Chairmanship benefits the country or the region.

The last time our country hosted the ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings was back in 2007
during the time of Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. According to Article 31 of the
ASEAN Charter, the Chairmanship shall rotate annually based on the alphabetical order of the
English names of the Member States.

The Philippines’ Chairmanship could not have come at a better time. Not only are we at the
dawn of a promising new era for our country under the leadership of President Rodrigo Roa
Duterte, but 2017 is also the year when significant economic programs and vision of the
Philippines were unveiled, such as AmBisyon Natin 2040. The latter is the collective long-term
vision and aspirations of the Filipino people for themselves and for the country in the next 25
years.

Strengthening the economy of the ASEAN region is one of the major objectives of the regional
bloc, especially since the combined economic power of the region makes it one of the largest
economies in the planet.

But now that we understand the big picture, the question is: How does the ASEAN integration
benefit the regular ASEAN citizen? What does the average Juan get from the country’s
membership of the ASEAN?

Here are a few reasons on how the ASEAN’s economic integration can benefit every Juan:

Opportunity to buy cheaper and wider range of goods and services from within the region.

Ever wanted that famous snack from Thailand? Or even those lovely coffee beans from
Vietnam? With the help of ASEAN integration, goods and services across the region will easily
become more accessible as tariffs are lowered or even eliminated for goods traded within the
region .

Opportunity to travel within the region.

We all have a desire to wander and travel, but not everyone is blessed with the resources or
even the time to roam around the world. Thankfully, it will become easier for us to travel within
ASEAN since it will be relatively cheaper, VISA-free, and most importantly, more ways to travel
by air, sea and land. The ASEAN region is blessed with natural resources, infrastructure, etc. It’s
almost like seeing a glimpse of how magical the world really is.

Opportunity to earn more.

Since the region’s 10 economies are integrated into one large economy, the move could lead to
larger market opportunities for intra-ASEAN trade in local materials and products, thereby
creating more job opportunities across the ASEAN, meaning more foreign investments in our
country, and for business owners, more potential customers to sell their products to.

Opportunity for more jobs locally.

Similar to the one stated above, an integrated and open ASEAN economy and allows for more
cross-border investments that will mean more job opportunities not only in our country but
across the ASEAN region. It is important to note that one of the goals of the AEC is to decrease
unemployment and underemployment across all ASEAN Member States.

Opportunity to work in any country in the region.

Having a job while being able to immerse yourself in a different country and culture is what
most of us can only dream about before. Thankfully, ASEAN is already paving the way for us so
we can make our dreams turn into a reality. Through the Mutual Recognition Agreement, skill-
sets honed in one ASEAN country will be held with equal value in another ASEAN Member
State.

ASEAN 2017

5 Ways the Youth Can Make a Difference in ASEAN

More than half of ASEAN’s population-629 million people and counting-is under the age of 30.
The youth make up one of the largest segments of the ASEAN Community.

The ASEAN youth are innovative, independent, outspoken, and technologically savvy which
means that they are not just the future leaders of the region, they too have the potential to
broaden the world’s awareness of ASEAN and to foster a sense of ASEAN kinship.

Here are five ways that young people like you can make a difference in ASEAN:

Be informed

Know what ASEAN is all about and what it stands for. Be informed of the goals, programs, and
concerns of the ASEAN Community and its three pillars, namely, Political-Security Community,
Economic Community, and Socio-Cultural Community. This is the first step towards being an
active member of ASEAN.

There are several free and accessible sources of information on ASEAN online, such as through
ASEAN’s website (http://asean.org/) and the ASEAN 2017 website
(http://www.asean2017.ph/). Take time to get to know the ASEAN Community as a whole as
well as each of the ASEAN Member States.

Broaden your understanding of ASEAN and keep abreast of what’s happening in the region.
Making a difference in ASEAN begins with knowing how ASEAN works.

Be inquisitive

If you’re not that familiar yet with ASEAN, don’t be afraid or too shy to ask questions about the
basics of ASEAN. Digital and social media does not only offer you free access to information
about ASEAN. Through social media, you can engage ASEAN, your government, or other experts
about ASEAN and what it stands for.

If you already have a working knowledge of ASEAN, dare to delve deeper. Asking the right
people the right questions will help you in finding your niche in the region.

Be involved

Youth participation energizes ASEAN in many ways. Youth engagement is critical in addressing
issues directly affecting people and the government.

ASEAN holds various meetings and seminars that urge young people to engage ASEAN. The
ASEAN Youth Leadership Development Programme, the ASEAN Youth Day Meeting, and the
ASEAN University Student Council Union Conference put the youth front and center as the
region’s change makers. Activities like these are meant to build up the confidence of young
people, develop their leadership skills, and encourage them to participate in the many
opportunities available for them to be active citizens in ASEAN.

Challenge yourself to enhance your knowledge in the formulation of policy on ASEAN matters.

In 2013, former U.S. President Barrack Obama launched the Youth Southeast Asian Leaders
Initiative (YSEALI) to develop regional connectivity and to inspire Southeast Asian youth to
become effective leaders. The program continues to encourage young people become solutions
to today’s and tomorrow’s problems.

There is also the ASEAN-Russia Youth Summit, which aims to promote awareness regarding the
ASEAN-Russia partnership.
Finally, during the Philippines’ Chairmanship of ASEAN, the Department of Trade and Industry
will host the 2nd ASEAN Youth Entrepreneur’s Carnival in Manila from September 07-09. The
Carnival puts a spotlight on the role that ASEAN’s young entrepreneurs play in strengthening
the ASEAN economy and market connectivity.

Be innovative

Young people are a wellspring of ideas. These ideas are important in ASEAN’s pursuit to achieve
inclusive and innovation-led growth, and to become an influential global player.

Young people are an asset to ASEAN considering that the world that we live in today is
incredibly different from the world that many of ASEAN’s leaders grew up in.

You and other young people in ASEAN can take advantage of social media and digital
technology to collaborate with other young people from other ASEAN Member States in order
to talk about ASEAN, to exchange ideas, and to develop innovative ways in making the ASEAN
region a better place to live in.

Initiating online forums and social media campaigns, developing interactive apps on ASEAN to
get more young people to become aware of and involved in the ASEAN are only a few ways that
the youth can engage and become a partner for positive change in ASEAN.

By expressing innovative ideas, young people like you can inspire government leaders,
businessmen, and institutions in addressing the issues faced by ASEAN in its 3 pillars.

Be an intrepid traveler

One of the best things about being an ASEAN citizen is the ability to travel to any ASEAN
Member State visa-free. This makes it easier for young people in ASEAN to get to know other
ASEAN Member States on a deeper level by immersing themselves in the culture of other
ASEAN Member States, treating their taste buds to a cornucopia of ASEAN cuisine, and more
importantly by forging strong people-to-people ties with other ASEAN citizens that they will
encounter throughout their adventure.

Several young people today even go the extra mile by “voluntouring” in other ASEAN countries.
Through voluntourism, young people combine voluntary service to a community in their chosen
destination while at the same time enjoy the arts, culture, history, and geography of the place.

What better way to know ASEAN more than to experience it?