Amid the current global economic slowdown, the 10-member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have discussed the possibility of establishing a joint working committee on trade, investment and developing rules of goods origin intending to boost trade within the region, according to Thai Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 41st ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) held at a Bangkok hotel on Friday, Mrs Pornthiva said she expected that online certifications for ASEAN traders could be implemented in 2012 to facilitate commerce within the bloc while developing rules of goods origin that would reduce time as traders would not have to seek certification as it is practiced now.

Other major issue discussed at the meeting, beginning Thursday and ending Sunday, was on ways to set up capital funds for ASEAN member countries, she said. The idea would later be forwarded to ASEAN finance ministers.

Friday’s discussions also focused on ways to boost cooperation in future between ASEAN and its six dialogue partners including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand with an aim to help the regional organization achieve its goal in setting up an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015, said Mrs. Pornthiva.

ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said ASEAN is now speeding efforts to establish the AEC within the 2015 deadline as well as on boosting trade, investment and consumption among ASEAN and the six partners in order to avoid a negative impact from the global economic downturn.

Dr. Surin said Friday’s meeting also discussed ways to help strengthen operators of the small- and medium-sized enterprises and their investment within the region after it was found that investment within the grouping last year stood at about US$60 billion.