The decision to develop a free trade zone in ASEAN
was taken unanimously by the leaders of member nations during the 10th 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 freer flow of capital, equitable economic development , and reduced povertry and socio-economic disparaties