Malaysia Optimistic ATIGA Upgrade Can Be Finalised By March 2025 - Tengku Zafrul
By Norsyafawati Ab Wahab
KOTA TINGGI, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz is optimistic that negotiations on upgrading the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) can be concluded in March, following positive developments resulting from discussions with ASEAN regional partners yesterday.
He said the matter was among those discussed at the senior ASEAN economic officials level, and would subsequently be refined at the 31st ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Retreat session in Desaru which he will chair tomorrow.
"There doesn't seem to be an issue (regarding the ATIGA upgrade talks), therefore, I think we can prioritise ATIGA by March and there may be some countries that have agreed to sign the agreement," he said at a press conference in conjunction with the organising of the AEM Retreat here today.
On Feb 9, the ASEAN Secretariat reported that ASEAN countries aim to finalise negotiations for an upgraded ATIGA by 2025, following a virtual ministerial meeting the week before.
On the progress of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), Tengku Zafrul said discussions were still ongoing to be refined as each country had different issues that needed to be addressed.
-- BERNAMA