V - Conclusion

Summary

This article has examined the scope of ASEAN-South Asia regional co-operation in the development of trade in primary commodities as a component in South-South co- operation. The first section of the analysis examined what countries in the region could attempt to achieve within the global institutional framework. The active support of the North is mandatory; otherwise the attempt would be mere rhetoric. The second section focused on the improvement of the production-marketing process of the commodities. It's success would depend on the willingness to help a competitor or ability to compete. The third section was on the intra-regional trade within the group, which is limited mostly because of the complementary nature of the commodities. In addition to these factors, low productivity and regular production shortfalls in certain primary commodities could impede co-operation among countries in the region. Although promising on the surface, as a component in the South-South co-operation, this has its own drawbacks.