ASEAN LEGAL WEBSITE SET TO LAUNCH

>> An online legal site offering information about the laws and regulations of the Asean member countries will be launched with free access early next year, Office of the Judiciary deputy secretary-general Sarawut Benjakul said yesterday.

Mr Sarawut said the website of the Asean Legal Information Centre (Asean LIC), containing general legal information and tax regulations of the Asean countries, is scheduled to be implemented in January.

The site, which will be launched in all 10 countries, will perform as a legal information hub for the Asean region.

It aims to boost investment in the region. The office held discussions on Friday with Rajesh Muttath, executive director of Asean LIC in Malaysia, on the site’s development, Mr Sarawut said.

The office will ask for cooperation from law-related agencies such as the Justice Ministry, the Thai Bar Association, the Office of the Council of State, Thammasat University as well as media agencies to provide legal advice, regulations and news for the website.

“If the Asean members believe that our legal systems meet international standards, they will have more confidence to invest in our country,” Mr Sarawut said.

Asean LIC will serve as the main legal site for the region, which will greatly benefit the public, he added.

Asean LIC will work with leading law schools to empower business, particularly cross-border trade and commerce, help countries to publicise legal information, and support legal professionals.