THE IMPACT OF ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY CASE STUDY THE FISHERMEN IN BELAWAN

Abstract

Masyarakat Ekonomi ASEAN (MEA) is a term that is present in Indonesia, which has the same basis as the AEC or ASEAN Economic Community. The target of the implementation of the MEA is to maintain ASEAN's regional political and security stability, increase regional‟s competition in the global markets, encourage economic growth, reduce poverty and improve the living standards of community ASEAN member states. Indonesia is a maritime country with the largest area in ASEAN. The District of Medan Belawan has one of the busiest ports in Sumatera. The location of Medan Belawan, which is on the international trade route, has the potential to provide opportunities for economic growth. The results of data collection obtained that the number of samples used in the study were 369 respondents. The results of this research showed that 70.2% of fishermen had known the ASEAN economic community, in accordance with BPS index of prosperity. The average age of respondents were over 17 years, which were 85% having experience working as fishers for more than five years at 67.2%.