ASEAN Lecture by Mr Iman Pambagyo on “The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): Progress, Challenges and Outlook”

Mr Iman Pambagyo, Director-General for International Trade Negotiations, Ministry of Trade, Republic of Indonesia delivered a Lecture titled “The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): Progress, Challenges and Outlook” at the ASEAN Lecture Series organised by the ASEAN Studies Centre.

ASEAN STUDIES CENTRE

Mr Iman Pambagyo delivering the ASEAN Lecture on 22 March 2017 (Source: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute)

22 March 2017 – Mr Iman Pambagyo, Director-General for International Trade Negotiations, Ministry of Trade, Republic of Indonesia delivered a Lecture titled “The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): Progress, Challenges and Outlook” at the ASEAN Lecture Series organised by the ASEAN Studies Centre. 

Mr Iman introduced RCEP to the audience, explained its potential benefits to the 16 participating countries (ASEAN-10 and six other dialogue members – China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand) and outlined the fundamental differences between RCEP and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Mr Iman also discussed the negotiation journey thus far, and the obstacles he has faced as the ASEAN Coordinator for RCEP negotiations in leading the multilateral talks.

 Among the many misconceptions that Mr Iman dispelled during the seminar was that RCEP is a China-led process when in fact it is driven by ASEAN. As RCEP negotiations enter a critical phase which would require strong government support from each of the participating countries, Mr Iman felt that participating countries who are facing problems gathering domestic support should consider their future in the negotiations. Mr Iman concluded by exhorting the observers to not “TPP-ise” the RCEP and set the wrong expectations for it.


Participants at the ASEAN Lecture (Source: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute) 

Over 80 people, including diplomats, government officials, business leaders, academics, students and members of the media attended the lecture.

The ASEAN Lecture Series features high-level policy- makers, eminent scholars, public intellectuals and business leaders discussing transformative ideas that will shape the development of the region, in addition to fostering a better understanding of ASEAN, and its relations with the international community.

Click here to download Mr Iman’s Presentation.