by Irene Wijaya | Jun 11, 2021 | News
The Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), launched in 2000, was designed to provide a framework for regional cooperation through which the more developed ASEAN Member States (AMS) could assist newer members to meet their ASEAN targets and commitments. Through special assistance to Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV countries), the IAI aims to narrow the development gap within ASEAN and enhance its competitiveness as a region. AADCP II has been a long-time supporter to the IAI and ASEAN’s effort to narrow the development gap. It supported the review and development of the IAI Work Plan III, and last year helped the preparation of the IAI Work Plan IV (2021-2025) which was adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 37th ASEAN Summit on 12 November 2020. The Work Plan maintains the five strategic areas of the IAI Work Plan III, namely (i) food and agriculture; (ii) trade facilitation; (iii) micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); (iv) education; and (v) health and well-being. To promote timely implementation of the Work Plan IV, AADCP II has provided follow up support in developing 10 project proposals for selected actions under the Work Plan. It is also undertaking five in-depth assessments which provides additional input to the proposals being prepared. More information on AADCP II support to the preparation and implementation of the IAI Work Plan IV is here. As part of the development process, a Stakeholder’s Forum was held virtually on 8 June 2021 in collaboration with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration and Narrowing the Development Gap (IAI & NDG) Division, following a series of national consultations with CLMV government officials in April...
by Irene Wijaya | Jun 10, 2021 | Projects, Services
At the 36th ASEAN Summit on 26 June 2020, the ASEAN Leaders agreed to commence the process toward ASEAN’s recovery effort from the COVID-19 pandemic. The ASEAN tourism sector, which has been severely impacted, is working towards rebuilding travellers confidence and increase the number of domestic and international visitors. This project will develop comprehensive common guidelines and standards for safer and healthier work environment for tourism workers/professionals and communities, in order to support that effort. As ASEAN is working toward single tourism destination as envisioned by the Leaders, it is crucial that all 10 AMS have a common understanding on the expectations and standards being applied in each other’s country, and that businesses/ industry players in the region have a common reference for implementing hygiene and workplace safety protocols. The output of this project will be the ASEAN Common Guidelines on Hygiene and Safety for Workers and Communities in the Tourism Industry. The guidelines will consolidate, adapt and harmonise the various existing international and national standards, best practices and guidelines and AMS’ national health and safety protocols. Adoption of the guidelines by ASEAN Member States and implementation of the guidelines by industry players and service providers will not only bolster confidence among domestic and international visitors to ASEAN destination but also contribute to the establishment of the recovery plans of ASEAN...
by Irene Wijaya | Jun 10, 2021 | Connectivity, Projects
This project responds to the first objective under the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 Strategic Area of Sustainable Infrastructure of increasing public and private infrastructure investment in each ASEAN Member State (AMS), as needed. It is a follow-up to the first project under MPAC 2025 Initiative 1 on the Establishment of the Initial Rolling Priority Pipeline of ASEAN Infrastructure Projects. This project aims to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affects ASEAN’s infrastructure development efforts, and help ASEAN policymakers determine appropriate future actions. The project will i) assess emerging trends and priorities in infrastructure taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; ii) review of the current Pipeline projects and identify key challenges and opportunities; and iii) provide recommendations on new priority areas to promote sustainable infrastructure, updated screening and scoring criteria to determine the suitability of projects for inclusion into the Pipeline, and criteria/tool to refine or enhance the Pipeline projects’ ability to respond to the pandemic. The outcome of this project is expected to guide the subsequent rolling in and out of projects from the...
by Irene Wijaya | Feb 26, 2021 | News
The ASEAN region is rich in mineral resources and has vast potential for new discoveries. In 2018, minerals trade registered an annual growth of 9%, valued at USD 249.8 billion, and accounted for 8.9% of ASEAN’s total trade. The demand for minerals in ASEAN is expected to increase at the back of continuing economic growth and market expansion within the ASEAN Member States (AMS). The AMS sees genuine need to promote cooperation in minerals in the region, which will enable AMS and other ASEAN partners to work together in ensuring effective and sustainable approaches in minerals development while promoting investment and trade within ASEAN and beyond. This need is clearly reflected in the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan (AMCAP) 2016-2025. The ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase II (AADCP II) supports the implementation of the AMCAP through the “Strengthening ASEAN Cooperation in Minerals” project. The project helps ASEAN undertake a study to stock-take existing ASEAN minerals development and cooperation in the context of global markets and minerals industry developments and propose corresponding regional strategies and measures. It also includes a scoping study for the development of an effective ASEAN minerals database (AMDIS), which is considered crucial to facilitate much needed investment into minerals exploration and development in the region. On 23-24 February 2021, representatives from the ASEAN Member States (AMS) convened for the Regional Workshop on the Development Prospects for the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation (DPAMC) and Scoping Study of the ASEAN Minerals Database and Information System (AMDIS). Held virtually, the workshop discussed the initial findings and recommendations from the drafts of the DPAMC Study and the AMDIS Scoping Report. Inputs from...
by Irene Wijaya | Feb 19, 2021 | News
We recently concluded our support for the Mid Term Review of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025. The Mid-Term Review (MTR), which started in 2020, took stock of the implementation progress, highlighted successes and identified challenges in the implementation of MPAC 2025. Furthermore, it established linkages to other ASEAN and external initiatives, and provide recommendations for necessary adjustments to boost implementation at both regional and national levels in line with a review of the continued relevance of MPAC 2025. The MTR noted MPAC 2025’s relevance against emerging trends in the region, particularly the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has major implications for connectivity. The MTR found that MPAC 2025 initiatives could transform socio-economic outcomes in ASEAN and emerging trends such as covid-19 will make connectivity increasingly relevant. Enhanced digital financial services, for example, which is an objective under the Digital Innovation strategic area, could lead to USD295 billion in new credit, USD368 billion in new deposits and a leakage reduction of USD10 billion per annum for governments. Sustainable urbanisation actions, under the Sustainable Infrastructure strategic area, could result in savings for 13 major ASEAN cities of up to USD50 billion in total. There is little doubt that timely progress of MPAC 2025 implementation would greatly benefit the region, particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant progress on MPAC 2025 implementation has been achieved to date, but there are variations by initiative. The MTR suggested a set of recommendations for boosting implementation, which includes enhancing sectoral-level alignment, strengthening engagement with ASEAN partners, and promoting private sector participation. Click here to download the Executive Summary and infographics on the MTR. Also...
