ASEAN Officially The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Is A Political and Economic Union of
ASEAN Officially The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Is A Political and Economic Union of
ASEAN Officially The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Is A Political and Economic Union of
The African Economic Community (AEC) is an organization of African Union member states that
aims to create a framework for mutual economic development among the continent's majority
of countries. The organization's stated goals include building an economic and monetary union
through the development of free trade zones, customs unions, a single market, a central bank,
and a shared currency. There are currently many regional blocs in Africa, commonly known as
Regional Economic Communities (RECs), with many of their memberships overlapping. The
RECs are essentially trade blocs [(is a type of intergovernmental agreement, often part of a
regional intergovernmental organization, where barriers to trade (tariffs and others) are
reduced or eliminated among the participating states] with some political and military
cooperation thrown in for good measure. The majority of these RECs are the "pillars" of the
AEC, and many of them overlap in some of its member states. Because of the high level of
overlap, it's conceivable that some states with several REC memberships may eventually drop
out of one or more of them.
How Do These Trade Agreements and Efforts Impact Business?
It’s often called a “spaghetti bowl” because the agreements aren't precisely aligned strands;
instead, they're a tangled mass of crisscrossing strands that bind countries and trading blocs in
mutually beneficial trading alliances, like a bowl of spaghetti. Businesses must keep track of and
understand these changing trade agreements to ensure that none of them harm their
operations in critical markets. This is one of the reasons why multinational corporations employ
teams of in-house experts to monitor the WTO and regional trade agreements. For example,
American companies doing business in one of the ASEAN countries often choose to become
members of the US–ASEAN Business Council, so that they can monitor and possibly influence
new trade regulations as well as advance their business interests with government entities.
As a result, for a variety of reasons, most global organizations find that operating in stable
conditions results in the best company operations:
Staffing. When the in-country conditions are stable and largely risk-free, it is easier to recruit
skilled personnel. Consider the difficulties businesses face in attracting non-military employees
to work in Iraq's and Afghanistan's fledgling commercial sectors. Even development groups
have struggled to find qualified personnel to develop banking, finance, and service sector
initiatives. Historically, development personnel have only been sent into a country after military
power has established stability. Companies are required to pay even larger amounts of hardship
and risk compensation, and they may still be unable to attract the best staff.
Operations. Companies are afraid of losing or damaging their property and investments in
uncertain circumstances. Goods in transit, for example, can be readily stolen, and factories or
warehouses can be harmed.
Regulations. Firms find it difficult to prepare for the long term when business regulations are
unclear and continually changing.
Currency convertibility and free-flowing capital. When a country is in conflict, it is common for
it to institute capital controls (i.e., restrictions on money entering and leaving the country) and
for its currency to devalue or become illiquid. Global business management relies heavily on
financial management.
The United Nations
At the end of World War II, the United Nations (UN) was established to replace the League of
Nations, which had been established in 1919. Its basic objectives are still the same today: to
maintain international peace and security, to encourage good relations between states, and to
promote international collaboration in the resolution of economic, social, humanitarian, and
cultural problems. Human rights and equality are the underlying principle. Almost all of the
world's countries are members (now 192), with the exception of a few tiny regions and Taiwan,
which was awarded observer status rather than membership out of deference to China. The
United Nations is supported by assessments and contributions from member countries.
The United Nations' work has an impact all around the world. The UN and its agencies work
around the world to help refugees, clear landmines, improve food production, and fight AIDS.
They also aid in environmental protection, disease prevention, poverty reduction, and the
pursuit of higher living standards and respect for human rights. Although the United Nations is
best recognized for peacekeeping, peace building, conflict prevention, and humanitarian aid, it
also works on a wide range of fundamental social, economic, environmental, and health issues.
Security Council. This body is in charge of dealing with concerns of peace and security. It
comprises fifteen members, with the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and
France serving as permanent country representatives. The General Assembly elects the
remaining 10 every two years. As one might assume, there is a lot of political squabbling among
countries to get a seat on the Security Council, which is regarded as having enormous authority.
The Security Council's decisions are supposed to be binding on the rest of the UN's member
nations.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This group is in charge of economic, human rights, and
social issues. The work of this council is carried out through several smaller commissions and
specialized entities.
International Court of Justice. This body hears international disputes and is based in The
Hague(is a city on the North Sea coast of the western Netherlands). The General Assembly and
the Security Council elect fifteen judges to the court. The court hears cases involving, among
other things, war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and illegal meddling in another country's
affairs.
UN Trusteeship Council. This body is currently inactive, despite the fact that it is an established
section of the UN Charter charged with managing all trustee areas under UN custody.
UN as a Business Partner
On a global scale, the UN has a very obvious diplomatic mission. It's also vital to note that it
collaborates closely with the private sector, which is responsible for the vast majority of
services and initiatives worldwide. Global corporations sell to the United Nations in the same
way they market to their own governments and public-sector organizations. Each UN agency
has its own procurement office. The UN Procurement Division works with suppliers from all
around the world and is aggressively pursuing new sources of supply from developing and
transitional economies.