by Irene Wijaya | Oct 28, 2021 | Cross Cutting Issues, Technical Reports
The completion of the ASEAN Agreement on Electronic Commerce in 2019 was a key step in the pursuit of a leading digital economy in the ASEAN region. The Agreement provides the framework for the implementation of measures that allow ASEAN Member States (AMS) to cooperate in advancing the development and use of e-commerce in the ASEAN region while considering various degrees of digital readiness across AMS. As a result, the Agreement strengthens the emergence of a cohesive, aligned, and inclusive environment that helps facilitate cross-border e-commerce transactions for goods and services. To meet the objectives noted above and to ensure successful implementation of the Agreement, ASEAN and AMS will need to communicate and coordinate to facilitate the creation of a leading digital community. This Work Plan draws upon existing ASEAN work across various sectoral bodies to help achieve stronger e-commerce growth in the region. Such integration of effort will likely be replicated at the domestic level as well, as AMS will need to actively engage with various stakeholders to accelerate digital growth and meet national level e-commerce goals. This Work Plan for the Implementation of the Agreement outlines steps to be taken across the region over a five-year period to ensure continuing expansion of ASEAN’s digital resilience and support future growth opportunities for Southeast Asia. Download the Work Plan on the Implementation of ASEAN Agreement on e-Commerce...
by Irene Wijaya | Oct 18, 2021 | Investment, Technical Reports
The 2020-2021 ASEAN Investment Report looks at the state of foreign direct investment (FDI) in ASEAN in 2019 and 2020, noting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also identifies major developments shaping the FDI landscape and post-pandemic recovery, including the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement in November 2020. This mega regional trading agreement, which constitutes about 15 percent of global FDI stock and more than 33 per cent of global FDI flows in 2020, is expected to provide an opportunity for ASEAN and its partners to further boost investment and enhance the development of the global value chain in the region. This report features the role of FDI and Multi-National Enterprises (MNEs) in Industry 4.0 transformation in the region, and how ASEAN Member States promote the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies to support their industrialisation and enhance overall economic competitiveness. The Report also provides recommendations going forward to address the challenges in attracting FDIs to support this transformation process, noting that the prospects for FDI in Industry 4.0 relevant industries and activities are positive. The ASEAN Investment Report was produced in collaboration with UNCTAD. Download Report [PDF, 6.081 kb]...
by Irene Wijaya | Oct 18, 2021 | MSME & private sector engagement, Projects
Status: Completed. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are key players in the economies of ASEAN. However, as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, they are largely vulnerable to impacts of disasters due to their limited resources and widespread informality. This project is designed towards enhancing MSMEs crisis and disaster resilience through the development of a set of guidelines that will provide recommendations of appropriate and timely measures to minimise the impact of future disasters and crises on MSMEs. The guidelines will serve as reference for ASEAN policy makers to push forth MSME resilience including the provision of skills and risk awareness programs. At the same time, it will advocate for the institutionalisation of safety nets to support MSMEs to cope and recover from these shocks as well as strengthening MSME value chain and smarter supply networks. This project is a follow on to one of the key recommendations arising from the earlier AADCP II supported project on the Mid-term Review (MTR) of the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development 2016 – 2025 (SAP SMED 2025), which highlighted the need for ASEAN Member States (AMS) to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring that their crisis management skills are relevant and adaptable to changes. Download the Guidelines: Enhancing the Resilience of MSMEs to Crises and Disasters: Regional Guidelines for ASEAN Governments [PDF, 4,000...
by Irene Wijaya | Oct 15, 2021 | Consumer Protection, Technical Reports
The ASEAN Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Guidelines for Consumer Protection (2021) aims to assess the different approaches to ADR, the implementation in each ASEAN Member States (AMS), and the steps to establish and apply ADR mechanism effectively. The Guidelines take into consideration international and ASEAN best practices in ADR. This would set in place the right conditions for broadening economic growth, promoting competitive markets, and attracting cross-border investments in and across ASEAN as a whole. The steady increase of cross-border trade within ASEAN has also prompted the region to adopt a harmonised and unified approach to ADR. It is hoped that with these guidelines in place, ASEAN Member States will have an informative guiding document which they can consult, review, and implement to strengthen and fine-tune their respective alternative dispute resolution regimes for consumer disputes. The Guidelines is divided into the following areas: (1) Development of National Policies for ADR of Consumer Disputes; (2) Access to Justice; (3) Expertise, Independence and Impartiality; (4) Transparency; (5) Effectiveness; (6) Fairness and Due Process; (7) Legality; (8) Efficiency; (9) Partial Autonomy; and (10) Enforcement. The development of the ADR guidelines is in line with initiative 1.5.1 under the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan on Consumer Protection (ASAPCP 2016-2025), specifically which is to “Develop guidelines for common approaches to ADRs including consideration of a mechanism for resolving consumer complaints through consumer groups”. Download the ASEAN ADR Guidelines for Consumer Protection (866 kb) Related project: Addressing Gaps in the establishment of an ASEAN Consumer Protection Framework Phase...
by Irene Wijaya | Jun 30, 2021 | Cross Cutting Issues, Projects
Status: Completed. ASEAN Digital Master Plan 2025, recently adopted at the First ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN) in January 2021, placed a high priority on the development of a framework that encourage the development and growth of digital start-ups in ASEAN to support the increased capacity for business and people to participate in the digital economy. The project will identify and verify the key factors that affect the growth of digital startups in ASEAN and, based on the findings, develop a policy framework to promote digital startups. It is envisaged that once the framework is established and adopted, relevant ministries in the ASEAN Member States (AMS) will make best practice-based policies that will nurture/foster startup ecosystems, particularly in promoting growth of digital startups in their respective...
