Advent of the Era of the AEC and Its Impact on Singapore and Indonesia(4)

Comparative Study on the Perception and Response of Singapore and Indonesia

The AEC has drawn huge attention from the global society ever since discussions over the formation of the new regional economic community became the talk of the town. It isn't too much to say that agendas of the AEC Blueprint 2015 such as elimination of tariffs, facilitation of skilled labor mobility, liberalization of investment have been greatly valued to the international community. 

In that more than 95% of intra-regional trades have been conducted free from any types of tariff, expectation for meaningful progresses of the AEC gets bigger and bigger.

Advent of the Era of the AEC and Its Impact on Singapore and Indonesia(3)

Comparative Study on the Perception and Response of Singapore and Indonesia

Along with the ASEAN Political-Security Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, the concept of the AEC was first emerged in the ASEAN Vision 2020 articulated in 1997. Then in 2003, leaders of the ASEAN member states declared the formation of an ASEAN Economic Community by 2020 as an agreed goal of the regional economic integration. 

According to the AEC Blueprint 2015, a comprehensive masterplan accelerated the formal establishment of the AEC from 2020 to 2015, AEC rests on four pillars; a single market and production base; a competitive economic region; equitable economic development; and integration with the global economy.

Advent of the Era of the AEC and Its Impact on Singapore and Indonesia(2)

Comparative Study on the Perception and Response of Singapore and Indonesia

While Myanmar is still under international criticism for the massacre against its minority group, Indonesians witness social conflicts with controversy over the majority religious party's alleged attempt to exercise influences on the political sector. 

Though the ASEAN members are faced with their own weighty political or diplomatic issues, all countries pay close attention to one regional watershed in common. It is the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) which marked the 3rd year of its ambitious inauguration 48 years after the establishment of the ASEAN in 1967.

Advent of the Era of the AEC and Its Impact on Singapore and Indonesia(1)

Comparative Study on the Perception and Response of Singapore and Indonesia

The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), the 6th largest economy in the world appeared quite noisy in the first half of 2018. Singapore seems advantaged with its efforts to raise its national reputation as the hub of neutral diplomacy after successfully hosting the historical summit between North Korea and the United States. 

Internal disorder in Malaysia triggered by the opposition party's recent victory on general election looms large as the new Prime Minister, the comeback kid at 92 has clarified his policy shift apart from the previous cabinet.

Walking around Cafes in Indonesia(3)

Introduction of Indonesian Cafes

In doing so, I've introduced 20 impressive cafes in Indonesia to COFFEE SPACE. 10 most memorable places out of the 20 were finally came on my e-book, 'Walking around Cafes in Indonesia'. Cafes in Jakarta, center of the nation's politics and economy, and cafes in Surabaya and Bandung, respectively 2nd and 3rd biggest city of Indonesia are included. Cafes in Bali, world-famous holiday island, and in Tokyo, Japan are touched upon as well. 

'Walking around Cafes in Indonesia' is based upon the coffee lover's honest passion for Indonesia. Sincerely hope my book could turn out handy to guide potential readers to the new world of Indonesian coffee.

Walking around Cafes in Indonesia(2)

Introduction of Indonesian Cafes

My desire to truly explore the local coffee culture becomes stronger as my experience on Indonesia gets richer in both quantity and quality. That finally led to my frequent visits to cafes in the country. By that time, I also started working as an Indonesian correspondent for COFFEE SPACE, a monthly coffee magazine issued in Korea. 

Whenever available, I tried to walk around cafes with decent reputation here and there in the nation. Indonesian friends were generous enough to advise me places to navigate. Bookstores were right spots where I managed to collect useful information especially on weekend.

Walking around Cafes in Indonesia(1)

Introduction of Indonesian Cafes

It was back in 2013 when I first tapped into Indonesia. Since then, I sometimes stayed in the country over several months, sometimes purchased round trip flight tickets between Seoul and Jakarta twice a month. It all has severed me a precious opportunity to come closer with the 'Country of Equator'. 

As my horizon on Indonesia got broadened, the country came to me with diverse attractions. Coffee, called 'kopi' in the local language is one of the charming characteristics. Though somewhat unfamiliar to most Korean people, Indonesia is the 3rd largest producer of coffee globally after Brazil and Vietnam.

Walking around Cafes in Indonesia(4)

Introduction of Indonesian Cafes

Cafes in Jakarta, center of the nation's politics and economy, and cafes in Surabaya and Bandung, respectively 2nd and 3rd biggest city of Indonesia are included. Cafes in Bali, world-famous holiday island, and in Tokyo, Japan are touched upon as well. 

'Walking around Cafes in Indonesia' is based upon the coffee lover's honest passion for Indonesia. Sincerely hope my book could turn out handy to guide potential readers to the new world of Indonesian coffee.

Walking around Cafes in Indonesia(3)

Introduction of Indonesian Cafes

Whenever available, I tried to walk around cafes with decent reputation here and there in the nation. Indonesian friends were generous enough to advise me places to navigate. Bookstores were right spots where I managed to collect useful information especially on weekend. 

In doing so, I've introduced 20 impressive cafes in Indonesia to COFFEE SPACE. 10 most memorable places out of the 20 were finally came on my e-book, 'Walking around Cafes in Indonesia'.