ASEAN and CAMBODIA
I. Introduction
ASEAN which is the acronym for Association of Southeast Asian Nation, was established on 8 August, 1967 whose member states include: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. The aim of ASEAN was to strengthen self-reliance and regional cohesion, while emphasizing social, cultural and economic cooperation and development. In order to achieve those objectives, ASEAN Community 2015 was established and comprised of three main pillars: the ASEAN economic community, ASEAN political security community and ASEAN socio-cultural community. Cambodia, which is one of the members of ASEAN, is also preparing for joining the new community of ASEAN. This has led to a controversy of whether the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community 2015 will provide less developed member countries especially Cambodia with benefits or more challenges. Consequently, we believe that ASEAN Economic Community 2015 will pose great challenges for Cambodia. This essay will discuss about major challenges that Cambodia is likely to encounter when entering ASEAN Integration 2015.
II. Challenges that Cambodia will face:
1. Economic Loss:
ASEAN is now approaching the new cutting edge of economics reform in Southeast Asia region. The reform will be about the new customs system, which receives no tax from the importation and exportation in the region and most importantly is the free flow of products. Cambodia, as one of the active members in ASEAN, is now following the step, which narrowed, by the agreement of ASEAN’s nations. However, this could lead Cambodia to disadvantages rather than advantages. There are two main disadvantages that Cambodia will face.
First, Cambodia is still considered as a weak economic country in the region. Products in Cambodia mostly are raw materials such as potatoes, rice, timber, and etc. These are products, which usually export to the other countries in ASEAN community. Cambodia mostly imports the
ASEAN which is the acronym for Association of Southeast Asian Nation, was established on 8 August, 1967 whose member states include: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. The aim of ASEAN was to strengthen self-reliance and regional cohesion, while emphasizing social, cultural and economic cooperation and development. In order to achieve those objectives, ASEAN Community 2015 was established and comprised of three main pillars: the ASEAN economic community, ASEAN political security community and ASEAN socio-cultural community. Cambodia, which is one of the members of ASEAN, is also preparing for joining the new community of ASEAN. This has led to a controversy of whether the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community 2015 will provide less developed member countries especially Cambodia with benefits or more challenges. Consequently, we believe that ASEAN Economic Community 2015 will pose great challenges for Cambodia. This essay will discuss about major challenges that Cambodia is likely to encounter when entering ASEAN Integration 2015.
II. Challenges that Cambodia will face:
1. Economic Loss:
ASEAN is now approaching the new cutting edge of economics reform in Southeast Asia region. The reform will be about the new customs system, which receives no tax from the importation and exportation in the region and most importantly is the free flow of products. Cambodia, as one of the active members in ASEAN, is now following the step, which narrowed, by the agreement of ASEAN’s nations. However, this could lead Cambodia to disadvantages rather than advantages. There are two main disadvantages that Cambodia will face.
First, Cambodia is still considered as a weak economic country in the region. Products in Cambodia mostly are raw materials such as potatoes, rice, timber, and etc. These are products, which usually export to the other countries in ASEAN community. Cambodia mostly imports the
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