KUALA LUMPUR: Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed is confident that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will be concluded by year end.
He said that the recently concluded 11th round of negotiations in Brunei showed great promise.
He said all 16 countries in the grouping want outstanding issues resolved and concluded by year end.
The RCEP comprises ASEAN countries, India, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Mustapa was speaking to reporters at the MoU signing ceremony between MITI and the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The deal will see the "World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2016" held in Kuala Lumpur from June 1-2, with the theme "Shaping the ASEAN Agenda for Inclusion and Growth"