Efforts by Asean governments and the private sector to promote productivity, technology and innovation can further regional economic integration, said Ambassador-at-Large Ong Keng Yong yesterday.

Mr Ong, who is also executive deputy chairman of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told a seminar that the Asean Economic Community (AEC) can open up growth opportunities, particularly for small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs).

He added that efforts are under way by Asean governments to reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers.

SMEs, he said, can capitalise on the AEC, which is an integrated market and production base of more than 620 million people that could expand to more than three billion through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).