Future of ASEAN Banking and Financial Markets June 27, 2014 Manila, The Philippines Noritaka Akamatsu Asian Development Bank
How will the ASEAN banking and financial markets be defined by the AEC? 2
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015 and challenges 600 million population; $2.3 trillion GDP; diverse economies; high savings (32.52%) and modest investments but not evenly across the member countries. Objectives Free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labor Freer movement of capital (progressing much more slowly and carefully than above) Challenges: Harmonization of regulations, market conventions, institutions Large development gaps between ASEAN 5 and BCLMV. Reconciliation of national interests while pursuing regional common goals and collective benefits. Promoting regional integration while being open globally 3
ASEAN s financial sector Attained stability and soundness, but FIs are too small to compete with global peers. Need scale. Small, segmented financial market is vulnerable to shocks and requires management of reserves outside the region instead of financing the region s development needs. Inadequate social security system is causing high precautionary savings limiting consumption thus domestic demand. Bank-dominated FS is unable to mobilize sufficient L-T finances despite the high gross savings. Gaps between ASEAN 5(+1) and BCLM(V) in the development of capital markets and nonbanking. Urban infrastructure needs are rising together with income gaps (need local government debt market and financial inclusion) Intra-regional trade and labor mobility will rise. Need efficient trade finance, remittances (and other retail banking services). 4
Analytical underpinnings for financial integration ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint, 2008 Two Roadmaps: Implementation Plan to Promote the Development of Integrated Capital Markets to Achieve the Objectives of AEC 2015 approved by AFMM in 2009 Combined Study on Assessing the Financial Landscape and Formulating Milestones for Monetary and Financial Integration in ASEAN approved by ACGM in 2012 5
The Implementation Plan Guiding principles: Freer movement of capital across ASEAN Freer capital raising across ASEAN Freer portfolio investment across ASEAN Strategic pillars Mutual recognition framework for fund raising, product distribution, investment and market access ASEAN exchange alliance and governance framework New products and ASEAN as an asset class Bond market strengthening Align domestic CMDP to support regional integration Reinforce ASEAN working process Initiatives: ASEAN Trading Link (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand) Common disclosure standards, cross-border dispute resolution mechanisms 6
The Combined Study Identifying preconditions for integration Financial service liberalization ASEAN banking framework (and insurance sector development) Capital account liberalization with macro-prudential readiness Infrastructure and capacity building (HR and laws and regulation) Payments systems linkages Capital market development with a focus on money and bond markets 7
ASEAN Banking Framework Two speed and two track approach ASEAN 5 first and BCLMV later (two speeds). When ready, bilateral, reciprocal Qualified ASEAN banks (QABs) QABs first and non-qabs later (two tracks) Subsidiaries first and branches later QAB is yet to be fully defined and granted. But there are banks already operating across ASEAN, e.g., Maybank, CIMB (Malaysia); UOB (Singapore); Bangkok Bank (Thailand). Citibank, HSBC, Standard Chartered Philippines and Indonesia are behind, not to mention BCVMV. 8
WCs / TF activities TF-ABIF: ASEAN banking framework (Qualified ASEAN bank), prudential standards, mutual recognition, home-host supervision, reciprocity. WC-FSL: Insurance sector opening and development (FTA negotiation with Japan) WC-CAL: Current account, FDI, portfolio inflows / outflows, other flows WC-CMD: Central banks focusing on money and bond market (while the securities regulators on equity market linkages), trade repository, (OTC derivatives clearing) WC-PSS: trade settlement (correspondent banking, local currency), remittances, retail payment networks, RTGS / CCP / CSD linkages 9
Will AEC 2015 deliver an ASEAN Financial Market Brand? 2015 will be only the beginning. Large development gaps between ASEAN 5(+V) and BCLM(V) requires a two speed approach and capacity building for BCLM(V). Will operate in a multicurrency environment Need to attain Pareto optimality for each step Build bilateral linkages with reciprocity before multilateralizing. Ensure preconditions are met (harmonized regulation, supervisory cooperation,..., cross border resolution). Takes time and need to move slowly and cautiously (hard lessons were learned from Europe) 10
Thank you!