by Irene Wijaya | Nov 2, 2021 | News
ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum, 6-8 October 2021 ASEAN convened the first ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (ASUF) with the goal of promoting sustainable urbanisation in the region. The online Forum took place on 6 – 8 October 2021 in partnership with UN-HABITAT, through the support of the ASEAN – Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase II (AADCP II). The ASUF represents a key ASEAN initiative to support the establishment of a multi-stakeholder eco-system for knowledge sharing and policy development. ASUF, which builds on the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy (ASUS), aims to encourage a constructive dialogue around the priority areas for sustainable urban development across ASEAN. The Forum brought together about 1400 participants representing government agencies both from national and local, international organization, private sector, academia, and civil society organizations from 49 ASEAN countries including as well as other countries. During the two days, the participants shared experiences and lesson learned on sustainable urban solutions focussing on the identified priorities for ASEAN cities, discussed initiatives and progresses of regional and national agendas and explored how to better support the social inclusion and gender equality in urban development. Today, more than half of ASEAN people live in urban areas and an additional 70 million people are expected to live in ASEAN cities by 2025, making sustainable and inclusive urbanisation a key priority to achieve the objectives of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and to raise the living standards of local communities. ASEAN Member States (AMS) recognise the crucial role of urbanisation for sustainable development and have enacted a pro-active approach to support cities’ endeavors. AADCP II is committed to help realise an inclusive,...
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 | 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...
by Fithri Saifa | May 23, 2018 | News
Senior officials and representatives from ASEAN Member States involved in infrastructure and connectivity matters discussed the project on Establishing the Initial Rolling Priority Pipeline of Potential ASEAN Infrastructure Projects at an inception workshop on 18 -19 April in Jakarta, Indonesia. The workshop is part of continuous efforts to promote infrastructure development and attract more investments in the region through the development of a pipeline list of ASEAN infrastructure projects in a transparent and professional way that would support greater connectivity among the member states, the broader region and beyond. During the two-day workshop, the participants exchanged views on the objectives and methodology that would be used to develop the initial pipeline and provide inputs to the approach, as well as consider potential ASEAN infrastructure projects for inclusion in the pipeline. Country and sector breakout sessions were also held to provide an opportunity for more in-depth discussions. The workshop was attended by 106 representatives from ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) and Lead Implementing Body for Sustainable Infrastructure (LIB-SI), ASEAN Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting (AFCDM), Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM), Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME), and Telecommunications and Information Technology Senior Officials Meeting (TELSOM), as well as the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the Ambassador of Australia to ASEAN. The project is funded by ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Programme Phase II financed by the Government of Australia and implemented by the ACCC and LIB-SI with the technical advisory services from the World...
by Fithri Saifa | May 22, 2018 | News
ASEAN and Australia held the 12th Joint Planning and Review Committee (JPRC) Meeting of the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase II (AADCP II) at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on 18 May. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the AADCP II and discussed further enhancement of program implementation and cooperation. The committee also approved the 2017-2018 Rolling Prioritisation Plan (RPP), including programming of around USD 6 million to support six recently approved projects. These include a feasibility study for ASEAN multilateral power trade and a project of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) to assess post-harvest losses, loss reduction technologies, and practices. Ambassador Min Lwin, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to ASEAN and Country Coordinator of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations, and Jane Duke, Ambassador of Australia to ASEAN, co-chaired the meeting. AADCP II will deliver up to AU$57 million between 2008 and 2019, supporting a range of projects and activities in support of the ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together” particularly the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 and IAI Work Plan III. The cooperation program plays a significant role in the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Partnership, and supports a number of initiatives arising from the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit held in Sydney earlier this year, including ‘Establishing the Initial Rolling Priority Pipeline of Potential ASEAN Infrastructure Projects’ and the ‘ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy’, both under the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. AADCP II works across AEC-priority sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, investment, services, tourism, consumer protection and financial integration. It supports ASEAN sectoral bodies through research and policy advice and support for...
