By Joyce Pangco Pa?ares

Bangkok?Member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations must increase trade among them by 40 percent or at least $570 billion over the next six years to ensure a long-term cushion against the global economic crisis.

With markets like the United States and the European Union that traditionally absorb the region?s goods and services suffering from recession, Asean director general Surin Pitsuwan said it is best for the bloc to increase internal trade and investment.

?We have to increase intra-regional trading by as much as 40 percent by 2015,? Surin said as he addressed the Asean Business and Investment Summit yesterday.

Surin noted that while intra-regional trade has increased five-fold from $82 billion in 1993 to $410 billion last year, it only accounted for 25 percent of Asean?s total trade.

Intra-Asean investments, on the other hand, are also increasing but at a slower rate of only 15 percent or some $9.5 billion out of a total of $63.3 billion in foreign direct investments in the region in 2007.

But Surin expressed optimism that the target will be met and that Asean will emerge stronger from the global economic downturn that has adversely affected two-thirds of the world?s economies.

?All across the globe, people are looking at us as a beacon of hope, as another pillar to sustain global financial and economic stability. Asean has a good chance of success, and many are predicting that we will recover sooner than the rest of the world,? he said.

The Asean Business Advisory Council, on the other hand, will recommend to Asean heads of state during the leaders? summit in Saturday the need to establish regional brands for products and services across the region.

ABAC chairman Arin Jira said regional brands should start with tourism-related products and services, such as fashion and hotels, to create more businesses and attract more tourists to the region.