CEBU, Philippines, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Donald G. Dee, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said here Friday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needs a single window where all intra-ASEAN transactions can be facilitated.

    Dee made the remarks at the 4th ASEAN Business and Investment Summit here ahead of the 12th ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on Dec. 10-14.

    "Everybody is taking a second look at ASEAN because it has the market that can sustain growth," he said. It has over 500 million population. The accelerated economic integration of ASEAN is expected to be agreed by the ASEAN leaders next week.

    The ASEAN was established on Aug. 8, 1967 in Bangkok by five countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

    Brunei joined the group in January 1984, followed by Vietnam in1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999.

    Dee said this can be done with by concentrating on the production of higher value added products rather than relying on cheap labor. He cited the case of the Philippines' garment sector, which has now transformed as manufacturer of branded high end garments for the global market.

    Dee cited that electronics and automotive parts as two Priority Integration Sectors that have attained a higher level of integration in the region but said there is a need to further deepen the integration. The Philippines is the coordinator country for the electronics sector.

    Meanwhile, ASEAN economic ministers are discussing the Blueprint on the Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015, five years ahead of the original target of 2020.

    Philippine Trade Secretary Peter Favila said Thursday the ASEAN Economic Ministers will also finalize seven documents for signing during the Summit.

    The blueprint is one of the important documents to be signed by the ASEAN Leaders when they meet here during the 12th ASEAN Summit. The Blueprint on the Acceleration of the ASEAN Economic Community will focus on how ASEAN could benefit from the elimination of tariff. The ASEAN Economic Community is one of the three pillars in the ASEAN Vision 2020 crafted at the ASEAN Leaders Summit in 2003 in Bali, Indonesia in the pursuit of a truly single regional economy.

    The two other pillars are the ASEAN Security Community and ASEAN Social and Cultural Community. The blueprint would also set deadlines for the dismantling of non-tariff barriers by 2010-2012.

    The blueprint also provides guidance on how to hasten the rollout of important trade facilitation measures like the ASEAN single window, and provides guidance on how to accelerate liberalization of cross-border investments, trade and services.