Foreign Trade University in collaboration with WTI and UPH organized an International Conference on the ASEAN Economic Community in Jakarta in the framework of the project "A Regional Center for Policy and International Trade Law" by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) funding, Foreign Trade University in collaboration with the Universitas Pelita Harapan, UPH - UPH Univerity (Indonesia) and WTI, World Trade Institute (Switzerland) organized the International Conference "Toward 2015 ASEAN Economic Community (AEC): Progress and Prospect" in Indonesia on October 14th-15th, 2014.

The following people attended and gave a speech at the opening ceremony of the conference: Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN; Prof. Pierre Sauvé - the Director of the World Trade Institute (WTI) Academic Cooperation Project - Switzerland; Rector of the University of UPH; Dr. Vu Thi Hien - Coordinator of Project and Head of Project Management Department of Foreign Trade University, with the majority of scientists, experts, scholars and lecturers from universities, nonprofit organizations, businesses, international organizations from over the world.

The entire conference took place with 5 sessions revolving around the issue of ASEAN Economic Community from regulation, trade facilitation, labor market integration and monetary policy to the institutional problems and vision of the ASEAN region. It is not beyond the expectations of those who attended the conference. The conference has created an excellent opportunity for scholars,lecturers and researchers to share their concern, the results of new research and discuss the current challenges issues in the field of international trade in general and the issue of the ASEAN Economic Community in particular, when the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community in late 2015 is getting close.

There were 15 reports at the conference and the Foreign Trade University has had 2 reports, which were presented by 2 prestigious speakers. Opening remark was the report of Associate Prof., Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy - Dean of Business Administration about Trade Facilitation in ASEAN Member Countries - Logistics Policies toward Asean Economic Community (AEC). Associate Prof. Dr. Tu Thuy Anh - Dean of International Economics formally ended of session 4th about the vision of ASEAN with the report "On the border effect in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)" and the role of ASEAN in this Agreement.

The conference on the ASEAN Economic Community has successfully ended and one of the decisive factors was the capacity, experience, collaboration and professionalism which was co-organized by the 3 units.

UPH University is the main organizational unit of the conference, which is known as a newly established university 20 years ago, is gradually proving their position and is one of the best private universities in Indonesia. The conference was held in conjunction with the launching of WTO Chair programme when this university is one of the seven selected universities of more than 77 proposals from popular organizations around the world.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference, Representative of the UPH university - Dr. John Riady also emphasized the role of the World Trade Institute (WTI) for creating opportunities for the initial step in the development of FTU within the framework of SECO. Simultaneously, he also thanked the Foreign Trade University - one of the first 3 universities that received project funding from SECO. FTU had expertise and experience in project implementation and had a good cooperation with UPH in organizing the conference.

Here are some pictures of the conference:

Opening remarks delivered by Prof. Pierre Sauve at the conference

Pr. Dr. John Riady on behalf of the Organizing Committee gave a speech at the opening ceremony

Indonesia's Minister of Commerce analysed the economic developments of Indonesia

Associate Pr. Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy had a great presentation on trade facilitation and logistics
Associate Pr. Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy listened to questions from the other reporters

Associate Prof. Dr. Tu Thuy Anh had been presenting an outstanding report in the conference
A speaker made a comment about the report of Associate Prof. Dr. Tu Thuy Anh

The entire hall had been listening to the report of the conference

Conference Organizing Committee had souvenir photo taken all together