The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced this week its decision to reduce the number of customs checkpoints to boost intra-region trade, writes Vietnam News Agency, Friday.
– ASEAN leaders agree with the idea to have green lines and reduce check points for regional trading, Secretary General Ong Keng Yong of the 10-member grouping was quoted as saying.
The initiative, he added, will first be launched on a pilot basis in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
As a result, goods exported through land transportation from Singapore to Viet Nam will be subject to only one check in Singapore instead of four checks as formerly required by customs agencies in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Secretary General Ong further said that the new policy could be implemented in 2008 or early 2009.
