Asean wants a RCEP trade deal by the 2016 deadline

Deep discussion: Mustapa (second from left) chairing the informal gathering of Asean Economic Ministers in Nairobi, Kenya.

KUALA LUMPUR: Asean trade ministers have instructed their officials to make sure that the next round of negotiations of the Regional Compre­hensive Economic Partner­ship (RCEP) will produce concrete outcome to meet the 2016 dead-line.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said that the instructions were for officials to step up work in the next few weeks to guarantee the outcome.