Singaporeans are looking forward to the formation of the ASEAN Community on December 31, expecting it will lead to more jobs and trade opportunities, a recent poll of local media has revealed.
Leaders of ASEAN member states at signing ceremony to form ASEAN Community. (Photo: VNA)
According to the poll, conducted by the Straits Times with support from other regional newspapers in the Asian News network, Singaporeans hope the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will reduce business costs and allow free movement within the region, helping ASEAN become completed with a stronger regional identity as well as consolidating its position on international arena.
However, most of Singaporeans think that the process will take time.
Singaporean people’s point of view about the ASEAN Community is similar to those of their counterparts in the region.
60 percent of Singaporeans share an optimism that businesses will do better once ASEAN becomes a community while nearly 40 percent of Indonesians and Thais shared a similar view.
About 75 percent of Singaporeans believe the formation of the community will make ASEAN more competitive.
The sentiment resonates with people in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.
Close to half of those who took the poll in Singapore expect their work or travel to increase in the next three years.
Sanchita Basu Das, a researcher from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute said the AEC will help 10 member countries to have a foundation to compete with other economic powers in the region in the future.
VNA
