But even as they acknowledged difficulties along the way, they urged not to tarry for a timelier implementation of the integration measures.

"I would invite you, my AEM colleagues, to join me this year in sending out a simple but strong message: ASEAN is good for business," declared Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila, chairman of the 39th meeting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) here.

While Favila said that the timetables for economic integration are do-able, with members expected to post high scores in their implementation efforts, he acknowledged that implementing the economic blueprint will not be an easy task for the 10 ASEAN member countries.

"There are unintended pockets of bureaucratic red tape that may be found the world over. These things also contribute to some of the delays we have on occasion encountered," he noted.

Favila said ASEAN cannot be a "big bang" scenario, as might happen in the case of a monetary union, but the ASEAN member countries can all reap the benefits as long as they iron out kinks for a timely implementation of their programs.

"The AEC blueprint is not a magic wand that will transform us from ashes to ballroom elegance as in the Cinderalla story," Favila said. "Timely implementation will lead to greater credibility for ASEAN."

"The time to draft the ASEAN Economic Community blueprint is done. The time to implement the ASEAN Economic blueprint is now come," he said.

At the conclusion of the 39th meeting of the AEM, the ministers endorsed the the final text of the AEC blueprint, its strategic schedule, and the final text of the declaration on the AEC blueprint for signing by the ASEAN heads of government at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore in November this year.

To jumpstart the AEC, the ministers signed two documents: A protocol to amend Article 3 of the ASEAN Framework Agreement for the ASEAN Priority Integration Sectors (PIS) and a roadmap for the logistics sector, the 12th PIS. The 12 PIS, which have an accelerated integration timetable by 2010, is expected to serve as a catalyst to realize the goal of ASEAN to become a single market and single production base.

The Priority Integration Sectors are electronics with the Philippines as country coordinator, automotive, garments and textile, agro-based products, information and communication technology (ICT), fisheries, rubber-based products and wood-based products, and the services sectors, including e-ASEAN, tourism, healthcare, and logistics.

The ministers noted the efforts toward the conclusion of the 5th Round of negotiations on ASEAN services liberalization in 2008.

The conclusion of the round envisages 10 more service sub-sectors to be brought into liberalization, in addition to the 55 subsectors in the previous round.

Significant removal of limitations on trade in the four priority services sectors, namely, e-ASEAN, healthcare, tourism, and logistics, would also be expected.

The ministers also noted the progress made in the development of the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) on professional services, which complement the liberalization process to facilitate the movement of qualified professionals to provide services in the region.

The MRA on Architectural Services and the Framework MRA on Surveying Services have already been finalized for signing at the 13th ASEAN Summit in November this year in Singapore.

The ministers also welcomed the decision of the 10th ASEAN Investment Area Council Meeting to revise the Framework Agreement on the ASEAN Investment Area into a comprehensive agreement combining investments, promotion, and protection to make the region more competitive in attracting foreign direct investments.

The ministers welcomed the decision of the ASEAN Free Trade Area Council to enhance the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT-AFTA) Agreement to make it a comprehensive agreement that is relevant to today’s regional business practices.

Favila also urged a partnership with the private sector through the ASEAN Business Advisory Council for a joint ASEAN advocacy and awareness campaign.

For ASEAN external relations, the ministers urged negotiators from ASEAN as well as from the dialogue partners to step up efforts and exercise flexibilities, when necessary, to ensure the completion of the negotiations within the set time lines.

The 39th AEM reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to the successful conclusion of th Doha Round and its readiness to make contributions to ensure that attainment of an ambitious and balance overall outcome, the development dimension being central to the Doha Round.

The ministers reiterated ASEAN’s support for the efforts of the chairmen of the negotiating groups, especially agriculture and non-agriculture market access, and the World Trade Organization director general to build consensus on an ambitious and balanced outcome.

The ministers also renewed ASEAN’s call on the major WTO players to demonstrate flexibility by moving beyond their current position in key areas of and display firm resolve in concluding the Doha Round by end of 2007.