Singapore to Host the 8th Asean Finance Ministers' Meeting

Singapore, 2 April 2004...On 7 April 2004, Singapore will host the 8th ASEAN Finance Ministers Meeting.  The Finance Ministers and their deputies from the ASEAN countries meet annually to discuss the latest economic developments and outlook for the region.  This is the first time that Singapore is hosting this event since the Finance Ministers Meeting started in 1997. 

The Meeting in Singapore will include discussions on the progress of the various ASEAN Finance initiatives. In particular, the Finance Ministers will have the opportunity to discuss the Roadmap for the Integration of ASEAN in Finance (RIA-Finance). The RIA-Finance is part of the RIA endorsed by the ASEAN Leaders to realise the ASEAN 2020 Vision of an integrated economic area with a freer flow of capital, goods and services.

The Meeting will be attended by Finance Ministers of the following countries:  Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.  The Singapore delegation will be led by Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance. Minister Lim will also chair the Meeting.

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