Surin Pitsuwan, the secretary general of ASEAN, announced the restructuring of the ASEAN Secretariat to include a fourth department focussed on the region's community and corporate affairs. "A new and strengthened ASEAN Secretariat will be able to respond more efficiently and effectively to the challenges of building the ASEAN community," a March 24 press release quoted Surin as saying. The restructuring will take effect on April 15 once more people are recruited.