Advent of the Era of the AEC and Its Impacts on Singapore and Indonesia(45)

Comparative Study on the Perception and Response of Singapore and Indonesia

Above all things, doubts are cast upon the massive disparity of the social and cultural environment among the member countries. There exists considerable economic gap in the region, too. 

For instance, Brunei, an oil-producing country was shined with its per capita GDP of 28,240 USD in 2017 while Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in the region only recorded per capita GDP of 1,390 USD during the same period. 

 

Advent of the Era of the AEC and Its Impacts on Singapore and Indonesia(17)

Advent of the Era of the AEC and Its Impacts on Singapore and Indonesia

They are Singapore and Indonesia in the maritime Southeast Asia. The two countries shouldn't be thought lightly of in any economic point of view in the region. Above all, Singapore has been acclaimed the most advance country with per capita GDP of 60,300 USD in 2017. 

In particular, Singapore is leading the region this year as it chairs the ASEAN summit and subsequent summits. In contrast with Singapore, Indonesia is ranked the first place in terms of the economic size. Indonesia has occupied as much as 40% of the regional GDP and has consistently beefed up its clout across Southeast Asia. 

The establishment of the AEC and its implication for South Korea(5)

The establishment of the AEC and its implication for South Korea

Doubts are cast upon the significant disparity of the social and cultural environment among the member countries. In addition, neither a single currency nor a central decision-making tower as those in the EU could be found. There exists considerable economic gap in the region as well. 

For example, Singapore is acclaimed to be in the rich Northern Hemisphere while Cambodia only records per capita GDP of about 1,000 USD. In this sense, it is no wonder that a tough itinerary is anticipated on the way to the substantial integration of the AEC.

The establishment of the AEC and its implication for South Korea(5)

The establishment of the AEC and its implication for South Korea

The question is whether the AEC can evolve itself something beyond a regional agreement body. Doubts are cast upon the significant disparity of the social and cultural environment among the member countries. In addition, neither a single currency nor a central decision-making tower as those in the EU can't be found. 

There exists considerable economic gap in the region as well. For example, Singapore is acclaimed to be in the rich Northern Hemisphere while Cambodia only records per capita GDP of about 1,000 USD. In this sense, it is no wonder that a tough itinerary is anticipated on the way to the substantial integration of the AEC.