The 108th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Services (CCS 108) and Related Groups took place from 21 to 25 October 2024 in Jakarta, Indonesia with the participation of representatives from all ASEAN Member States (AMS), members of the ASEAN Secretariat and Timor Leste as an observer. The Vietnamese delegation attending the meeting included the Ministry of Planning and Investment (head of the delegation), representatives of the following agencies: Government Office, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Health, and a number of experts from the Associations.

From October 21 to 23, 2024, working groups within the CCS framework such as the Business Services Sectoral Working Group (BSSSWG); Healthcare Services Sectoral Working Group (HSSWG); Logistics and Transport Services Sectoral Working Group (LTSSWG)... held group meetings to continue discussing contents related to Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) in the region to minimize restrictions on labor movement among ASEAN member countries. Also on 21-22 October 2024, within the framework of (CCS 108), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) coordinated with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) to organize a workshop on “Servitification in the Digital Era” at the ERIA Office in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The CCS 108 meeting took place from 23 to 25 October 2024 at the ASEAN Secretariat. During the meeting, ASEAN member countries continued to discuss a number of contents related to the principles of developing the List of Non-Conforming Measures (NCMs List) to implement the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA). According to the roadmap, 5/6 member countries (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand) have submitted the initial draft of the NCMs List of each country. The International Trade Center (ITC) has discussed with these countries the content of the initial draft. Some common issues that the countries have submitted include: lower commitments compared to previous commitments in the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS); some overlapping commitments; inconsistent use of the Central Product Classification (CPC) system... In addition, ASEAN countries continue to discuss and give comments on proposals to facilitate ASEAN trade in services such as the Draft  ASEAN Services Facilitation Framework (ASFF) Implementation Plan proposed by Singapore or the proposal to facilitate the movement of natural persons in regional trade and investment activities of the Philippines.

Also at CCS 108, Timor Leste presented its readiness to accede to the AFAS Agreement, ATISA and the Agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons (MNP). Timor Leste intended to submnit AFAS Schedule of Commitments by the end of 2024 with accession to AFAS targeted for 2025, subject to negotiation outcome; and MNP Schedule of Commitments by early 2025, with accession to MNP Agreement targeted by the end of 2025 subject to negotiation outcome.