ASEAN in its development has produced many agreements in the political, economic, and socio-cultural field. One agreement to be improved continuously is in the economic field with the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) which will be implemented by the end of 2015.

MEA will bring many changes especially to the social and economic conditions. Competition in every field will increase and one of them is competition in services, skilled labor, and professionals. It will be a challenge and an opportunity for the veterinary profession in Indonesia. Some countries in ASEAN have started to prepare for the free competition, what about Indonesia? Is the veterinary profession in Indonesia ready? To prepare it, there needs to be policies and concrete actions from the government, veterinary profession, and the private sector in strengthening legislation and regulations related to veterinary services, profesionalism and competency to improve competitiveness.

In celebration of its 9^th Anniversary, Center for Indonesian Veterinary Analytical Studies (CIVAS), in collaboration with Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association (IVMI) Branch Jabar II and with support from PT. Kreasi Veteriner Indonesia and PT. Tunas Daya Veterinaria, conducted a national seminar to discuss the readiness of the veterinary profession in Indonesia in facing the AEC.

The national seminar was held on Saturday, February 28, 2015 in Gedung Kusnoto 6^th floor, Bogor City, West Java, Indonesia. The purpose of the seminar were: (1) to introduce the concept of AEC in creating a stable, prosperous and highly competitive ASEAN economic region, (2) to inform opportunities and challenges AEC presents to the veterinary profession in Indonesia and readiness of the government and the IVMA in facing AEC 2015, and (3) to discuss possible efforts that can be done by the veterinary profession to face AEC 2015.

Speakers of the seminar were:

1. Dr. Asfri Winaldi Rangkuti, ASEAN-FAO Partnership Coordinator, FAO Regional Asia and Pacific, with topic “Asean Economic Community 2015 What Can be Achieved”.
2. Akhmad Junaidi, DVM, MMA, Director of Veterinary Public Health, Directorate of Livestock and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Indonesia, with topic “The readiness of the government in livestock and animal health field in facing AEC 2015“.
3. Prof. Bambang Pontjo Priosoeryanto, DVM., MS., Ph.D., AP.Vet, Chairman III of the Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA), with topic “ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015: is Indonesia’s Veterinary Profession Ready?”.
4. Tri Satya Putri Naipospos, DVM., M.Phil., Ph.D., Chair of the Directive Board of CIVAS, with topic “Professionalism and Veterinary Competency in Supporting the Realization of AEC 2015”.

The national seminar moderated by Prof. Deni Noviana, DVM, P.hD., the Chairman of IVMA Branch Jabar II. The seminar was conducted from 08.30 am until 02.00 pm, preceded with a speech by Chair of CIVAS Directive Board, Tri Satya Putri Naipospos, DVM, M.Phil., P.hD., followed by speech from IVMA representative, Prof. Bambang Pontjo Priosoeryanto, DVM., MS., Ph.D., AP.Vet, and finally a speech by Akhmad Junaidi, DVM, MMA, representing the Director General of Livestock and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture RI, who also officially opened the seminar.

The seminar was attended by 120 participants coming from Central Government Agencies (Ministry of Agriculture and related institutions), provincial/city/district livestock services, academics, associations, practitioners, private sectors, NGOs and students.

Results of the seminar was written into a formulation compiled by drafting team Andri Jatikusumah, DVM, M.Sc., Imron Suandy, DVM, MVPH, Dr. Med. Vet Hadri Latif, DVM, M.Si., Leni Maylina, DVM, M.Si., and Ridvana Dwibawa Darmawan, DVM. Hopefully this formulation will be useful input for the government, veterinary profession and private sector in drafting policies and necessary measures in facing AEC 2015.

Formulation of national seminar results is as the following:

1. The implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015 should be viewed as a challenge and opportunity for the veterinary profession of Indonesia, especially in anticipating the implementation of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and the ASEAN Agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons (AMNP).
2. Collaboration between government agencies, professional associations, academics, non-governmental organizations and other private sectors should be strengthened to improve the competitiveness of veterinary-related human resources in Indonesia within the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) framework, especially in facing liberalization of veterinary services and mutual recognition of education, experience, licensing or certification of the veterinary profession through the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA).
3. In anticipation of the liberalization of the veterinary services, the government along with professional associations and other stakeholders need to perform efforts to protect national interests through the development of rules/regulations related to four modes of supply under ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS), including: (1) Cross border supply; (2) Consumption abroad; (3) Commercial presence; and (4) Movement of natural persons.
4. Strengthening the profession and competitiveness of Indonesian veterinary human resources should be supported by strengthening policies, legislation and institutions that quarantee the professionalism and competence of the veterinary profession in the form of: (1) Law on Veterinary Practice (Veterinary Professional Act/Veterinary Medicine Law); and (2) Professional Regulatory Authority (PRA) as required under the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) and equivalent to as intended as a Veterinary Statutory Body (VSB) in Article 3.1.12. OIE Code.
5. All stakeholders should support the many efforts made to strengthen the implementation of Indonesia’s commitment within the AEC framework as intended above by developing a roadmap towards the establishment of a more professional and competent Indonesian veterinary profession community with regional and global competitiveness.
6. Stakeholders need to increase awareness of the profession in accelerating capacity improvement and competitiveness of the Indonesian veterinary profession to strengthen cooperative relationships and networking between colleagues, especially to support the role of the government and the Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) in strengthening the position of Indonesia through negotiations in various forums in the ASEAN level (the ASEAN Secretariat, FAVA, SEAVSA).

Formularium National Seminar AEC 2015