REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to attend the 24th ASEAN Summit on May 10-11 in Nay Pyi Daw, Myanmar, according to a press statement by presidential spokesman Teuku Faizasyah issued on Friday.

"Apart from discussing the regional and international issues, the leaders at the ASEAN Summit in Myanmar will also be presented the report made by ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh regarding the preparation of all ASEAN member states ahead of the implementation of ASEAN Community 2015," Faizasyah stated.

Earlier, Secretary General to the United Cities and Local Governments in Asia Pacific Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi called on the local governments in the ASEAN member countries to brace themselves and their citizens for the start of the ASEAN Community by 2015.

"The ASEAN community will enable easier movement of people within the region. There must be a political will within the local government to prepare its citizens for the implementation of the community, so that they can enjoy the benefits of integration, while also minimizing the risks," she emphasized.

"Improved coordination between the central and local governments is also required in this regard," she remarked on the first day of the regional workshop on building cooperation between the central and local governments of the ASEAN member countries.

Bernardia reiterated the need for supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in ASEAN, as the sector will grow larger in line with the implementation of the ASEAN Community in 2015.

"SMEs need to be strengthened, so that they can produce export-oriented goods and benefit from the upcoming ASEAN single market," she added.

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