A delegation of leading US corporations have emphasised the importance of ASEAN integration at their recent meetings with the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Led by US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) President Alexander Feldman, the delegation included senior representatives from APCO Worldwide, Caterpillar, FedEx Express, Ford Motor Company, Intel, Philip Morris International, UPS, and White & Case LLP, the USABC said in a press release.

“The meetings underscore the importance US business puts on expanding operations in the ASEAN area,” Alexander Feldman was cited as saying. “As ASEAN becomes a more efficient and unified market, the region will become an even more attractive investment destination for multinational companies.”

He added that: “We are hearted by the major steps that the 2009 AEM made in propelling the trade agenda and are looking forward to participating in the upcoming sector specific discussions on automotive and logistics industries.”

During its consultation with the AEM, members of the Council urged ASEAN to implement the various ASEAN agreements and roadmaps in a timely and consistent manner so that it can achieve the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015; enhance transparency by initiating more dialogue with the private sector and making information relevant for businesses available on the ASEAN Secretariat website, including the AEC scorecard that will help businesses track progress made in trade liberalising measures in each country, as well as to resist pressures to raise new barriers to trade as other barriers are lowered or adopt protectionist measures.

The Council delegation also held bilateral meetings with Ministers and senior officials from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

ASEAN is the US 's fifth-largest trading partner behind only Canada , Mexico , China and the EU. The Council and the ASEAN Ministers agreed to continue to work together to promote the benefits of trade and investment in the region and in the 10 member countries./.