WHAT IS MEA?

The ASEAN economic community or MEA is a group of people that are integrated with each other within the scope of ASEAN of the existence of free trade between the ASEAN member states that has been mutually agreed upon among ASEAN leaders to turn ASEAN into a stable, prosperous and competitive region in economic development.

The purpose of MEA is :
The purpose of establishing the MEA (ASEAN Economic Community) is to integrate the economy in the highly diverse Southeast Asian country into a single market with a total of 625 million people with a combined GDP (gross domestic product) of US $ 2.5 trillion in 2014. MEA has several visions for some years to come printed on the AEC Blue print, namely:

1. An integrated economy with high integration.
2. ASEN is competitive, innovative and dynamic.
3. cooperation and relationships of various factors.
4. Being an area oriented towards individual welfare
5. ASEAN worldwide.

Characteristics of the ASEAN Economic Community:
1. Single market and production base.
2. Competitive region in terms of economy.
3. Regions whose economies are developing.
4. The region is fully integrated into the global economy.

Positive impact of MEA

Can be seen from the goal must provide a lot of positive for the State or the community. Following the positive impact of MEA:

1. Trade Aspects
Relating to the free market in Southeast Asia so that it gives a prominent influence and influences trading activities. With the existence of MEA any restrictions on trade are severely hampered to nothing. Therefore this will have an impact on the international rural activities of the Southeast Asia region, such as increased exports, increased international production or quality, is driving the economic growth of ASEAN countries, increasing the country's foreign exchange through import duties on goods.

2. Investment aspects
The increase will include foreign investment that provides economic growth with technological developments, human resources, employment, and easy access to world markets. For investors especially in the economic sector and business development or domestic companies. From increasing this, increasing investment to increase business opportunities, enhancing open business relationships, providing opportunities for both small investors, good investors, and providing opportunities for beginners, economic investment.

3. The field of employment
Increased employment and employment opportunities for the community, easy to find work abroad in the Southeast Asia region, for employers to find workers in accordance with the criteria and abilities. This impact can improve the quality of people's skills, encourage people to be open-minded, change socio-culture because they represent open markets, and increase healthy competition among field workers.

MEA Negative Impact:

1. In terms of competition
Increased competition for domestic and foreign products, because it reduces borders and there are no territorial limits on goods and services in the Southeast Asia region. Related to important products that flow in a country and will have an impact on domestic products

2. In terms of exploitation
Ease of investment so that many entrepreneurs exploit natural resources or human resources.

3. Field of employment
Win it at home because looking for work abroad only in the international community in the Southeast Asia region.

My opinion about MEA is good for increasing potential, encouraging economic growth, reducing poverty and improving people's living standards. So that if all can be achieved well, ASEAN can become the backbone of the economy in the Asian region and can become an arena for human resource development so that it is more competitive and skilled.
But for the Indonesian people themselves must understand what the purpose of the AEC is and what impact the AEC has and the importance of socializing. If socialization is lacking, only a few Indonesians know the AEC and do not use the AEC properly. And people from outside Indonesia will enter Indonesia to find work and there will be a lot of unemployment and increased poverty if there is no readiness from the community to compete in the region.