REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YOGYAKARTA -- Indonesia is set to become a strategic and potential market for the ASEAN countries ahead of the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by this year end, according to an academician.

"With the observation that Indonesia's economic growth prospects are likely to remain positive, the country will become an important target market for various ASEAN countries," Erwan Agus Purwanto, the dean of Gajah Mada University's Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, noted here on Thursday (15/1).

He pointed out that with its gross domestic product being the largest in the ASEAN, Indonesia will become the target market for Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and other ASEAN countries.

Therefore, Purwanto noted that the government should continue to optimize its strategic plan to build community preparedness to face global competition in the ASEAN countries.

Besides this, he said the regional governments should assist the central government by protecting their respective local economies.

"Public awareness should be increased as most of them have yet to understand what AEC is all about," he remarked, adding that Indonesia's participation in the AEC will have an impact on its economic, social, cultural, and political aspects.

"Every individual in the ASEAN countries will later enjoy freedom of mobility. The people will be able to seek jobs in other ASEAN countries without necessarily having a passport and visa," he added.

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