There is also room to upgrade the public services, and for adjustments in the tax system through benefits – for instance by increasing the earned income tax credit (negative income tax), and more.
We have to be outward looking and our objective should be to bring about coherence and consistency in our macroeconomic policies that attract direct foreign investment. The Annual Report of ACU for the current year (2004) indicates that even though intra-regional trade is growing, the operations through the Asian Clearing Union are limited. Our efforts to expand its membership have not as yet succeeded.