Da Nang, Vietnam

CAMBODIA is striving hard towards ASEAN’s goal of establishing a single market by 2015, but a number of steps must still be taken, according to Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh.

“The most difficult remaining obligation that we owe ASEAN is the passage of the agreement on air services,” he told reporters at the opening ceremony for a meeting of ASEAN economic ministers yesterday in Da Nang, Vietnam.

The air services agreement is aimed at liberalising market access and ownership for air carriers in the region, and is a precursor to a single ASEAN aviation market for 2015.

Cham Prasidh said Cambodia had not yet translated the agreement into Khmer, a necessary step before it could be submitted to the National Assembly for ratification.

ASEAN plans to eliminate most trade barriers and create a single market by 2015.

The ministers’ meeting in Da Nang will focus on facilitating trade and reducing procedural paperwork.