COMMODITIES
15.
THE MINISTERS WERE CONCERNED AT THE FALL IN EXPORT
EARNINGS FROM MANY PRIMARY COMMODITIES OF IMPORTANCE TO ASEAN
PRODUCERS. THEY NOTED THAT BOTH SIDES ARE REVIEWING THEIR
APPROACHES TO COMMODITY PROBLEMS. FURTHER TO STRENGHTEN MUTUAL
COOPERATION, TTHE MINISTERS AGREED TO EXAMINE TOGETHER
WAYS IN WHICH ASEAN COUNTRIES HEALVILY DEPENDENT ON THE
COMMODITY SECTOR COULD CARRY OUT MEASURES WHICH WILL BRING ABOUT
GROWTH, DEVERSIFICATION AND EXPANSION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
ASEAN-EC COOPERATION
ASEAN-EC MINISTERIAL MEETING ON ECONOMIC MATTERS
16.
THE MINISTERS, RECALLING THE DECISION TAKEN AT THE PREVIOUS
MEETING IN DUBLIN IN NOVEMBER 1984, NOTED WITH SATISFACTION THAT
THE ASEAN-EC MINISTERIAL MEETING ON ECONOMIC MATTERS WAS
HELD IN BANGKOK IN OCTOBER 1985. THEY COMMENDED THE ASEAN AND
COMMUNITY MINISTERS ON ECONOMIC MATTERS FOR THEIR VALUABLE EFFORTS
AND POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS INTENSIFYING ASEAN-EC COOPERATION,
INCLUDING IDENTIFYING NEW AREAS OF COOPERATION. THEY AGREED THAT
FURTHER SUCH MEETINGS COULD BE CONTEMPLATED AS AND WHEN NECESSARY.
INVESTMENT
17.
THE MINISTERS REITERATED THE IMPORTANCE THEY ATTACHED TO
INCREASED EUROPEAN INVESTMENT IN THE ASEAN REGION. THEY COMMENDED
THE JOINT HIGH LVEL WORKING PARTY ON INVESTMENT FOR ITS WORK AND
ENDORSED ITS CONCULSION THAT ASEAN COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO
OFFER IMPRESSIVE LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION.
THEY AGREED ON THE NEED FOR CAREFUL STUDY OF THE REPORT WITH
A VIEW TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD
FACILITATE EC INVESTMENTS IN THE ASEAN REGION. THEY ALSO AGREED
THAT THE JOINT COOPERATION COMMITTEE SHOULD KEEP UNDER REVIEW
PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
18.
THE ASEAN MINISTERS NOTED THE FACTORS CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO BE DEALT WITH TO PROMOTE FURTHER EUROPEAN INVESTMENT IN THE ASEAN REGION. THEY UNDERTOOK TO EXAMINE URGENTLY THESE FACTORS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT WITH A VIEW TO
THEIR IMPLEMENTATION.
19.
S
THE EC MINISTERS AGREED TO EXAMINE URGENTLY THE RECOMMENDATION
IN THE REPORT WHICH COULD BE TAKEN ON THE EUROPEAN SIDE TO INCREASE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT AND IN PARTICULAR TO TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE THE INFORMATION AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO EUROPEAN BUSINESSMEN INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN THE ASEAN REGION. THEY AGREED TO ENCOURAGE REPRESENTATIVES OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN EUROPE, INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK, TO COOPERATE TOGETHER ON THE BASIS OF THEIR RELEVANT EXPERTISE, AS RECOMMENDED IN THE REPORT, IN ORDER TO PROMOTE A MORE EFFECTIVE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT EFFORT.
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