Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla has said Indonesia is ready to face the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) that will come into effect by the end of 2015.
"We (Indonesia) are ready for it as we are the greatest country in the region. The number of our labourers should be more, and they are smarter than those from other countries. The AEC will open up the movement of goods, services and people (human resources)," the vice president said at the 48th commemoration anniversary of ASEAN here Monday.
To prepare for the AEC, the Vice President said Indonesia should improve the ability of labour, both in quality and numbers.
Kalla explained the quality of a country's ability determines the amount of benefits it would be able to gain as a result of the AEC.
The most efficient state when it comes to a productive economy will be able to obtain more benefits from the AEC, he added.
"The AEC is a common market, so the most efficient in terms of productivity will garner more benefits. As long as we have good quality, we will increase profits," he explained.
The AEC is a merger of the free trade economic system among Southeast Asian member countries with the aim of making ASEAN a single market and production base for economic growth for each country.
The AEC cooperation includes human resource development and capacity building, recognition of professional qualifications, trafficking in financing measures, improvement of infrastructure and the development of electronic transactions in the ASEAN region. (WDY)
