The decision to develop a free trade zone in ASEAN was taken unanimously by the
leaders of member nations during the tenth ASEAN summit. The logistics sector was
added later in the 37th ASEAN economic ministers meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR in
September 2005. The objective of free trade among ASEAN is to develop an ASEAN
economic community by 2015 whereby there is a free flow of goods, services, investment
and a freer flow of capital, equitable economic development, and reduced poverty and
socio-economic disparities (Lloyd and Smith, 2004).