by Fithri Saifa | Apr 18, 2016 | News
The ASEAN Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP) II and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration and Narrowing the Development Gap (IAI & NDG) Division held the Stakeholder Forum and the Regional Workshop in on 29 and 30 March 2016, following the national consultations held in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) in early March. The two events which were held in Jakarta is part of the AADCP II and IAI & NDG Division project called the Development of Post 2015 Work Plan for the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). During the Stakeholder Forum, the representatives from ASEAN Dialogue Partners (DPs), Business groups and Industries and External Parties as well as representatives of all ASEAN Member States who are active in IAI shared their current programmes and future priorities in each strategic area of the proposed IAI Work Plan that was initially formulated during the national consultations, and discussed how they may coordinate and participate in the implementation of the Work Plan. The stakeholders also shared their concerns about the implementation process. The Regional workshop held the day after the stakeholders’ forum which attended by ASEAN Member States (AMS), CLMV country officials from national capitals, and the ASEAN Secretariat discussed the proposed implementation mechanisms, with particular focus on national-level coordination. The participants through five small working groups, discussed and agreed on the objectives and actions to be included in each strategic area in Work Plan III. Next steps are the finalisation of the Work Plan and development of the monitoring and evaluation framework. ...
by Kaisar | Mar 30, 2016 | News
2015 marks the end of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan II, which covered the period of 2009-2015. With it comes the need to start formulating a new Work Plan III for the period of 2016-2020. Based on lessons learned from previous IAI Work Plans, a more strategic approach is adopted for the development of the new Work Plan. This approach, which aims to ensure ownership and improve focus on outcomes and impact, includes close consultations with regional and national CLMV stakeholders. Through AADCP II support, a series of “policy labs” have recently taken place in the CLMV countries: in Vientiane-Lao PDR on 10-11 March 2016, in Phnom Penh-Cambodia on 14-15 March 2016, in Nay Pyi Taw-Myanmar on 17-18 March 2016, and in Hanoi-Vietnam on 21-22 March 2016. These policy labs aims to develop and prioritise specific actions in five proposed prioritised strategic areas, which include rural economies, MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), trade facilitation, education and labour market, health and well-being. Each policy lab was attended by between 15 to 25 government officials from various relevant ministries. The policy lab participants had intense discussions and produced a short list of focused actions, which will be the basis for developing the IAI Work Plan III. The consultations culminated in a 2-day meeting held in Grandhika Hotel Jakarta on 29-30 March 2016. The first day focuses on stakeholder consultation, in which ASEAN Dialogue Partners had the opportunity to provide feedback to the draft list of actions. The second day focuses on giving ASEAN government stakeholders to provide their input and discuss implementation arrangements to ensure effective and...
by Fithri Saifa | Mar 24, 2016 | News
ASEAN GAHP focal points from Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam attended the first consultative workshop to discuss the draft ASEAN Good Agriculture Husbandry Practices (GAHP) on Animal Welfare and Environmental Sustainability Module for Layers, Broilers and Ducks in Jakarta, Indonesia on 22 – 23 March 2016. The draft module will be consulted with ASEAN broiler and layer industry to ensure the relevance and applicability of the standard to industries. The final consultative workshop will be held in mid of June 2016 in Thailand. The workshop is included under the project “Establishment of ASEAN Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP)”intended to strengthen the ASEAN GAHP as regional trading standard in...
by Fithri Saifa | Mar 1, 2016 | News
The last series of National Workshops on Toolbox Development for Tourism Labour Divisions of Travel Agencies and Tour Operations took place on Friday, 5 February at the InterContinental Midplaza Jakarta, Indonesia, following similar workshops held earlier this year in other member countries. The purpose of the workshop was to provide information on the content and learning approach taken in the toolboxes and to gather feedback from participants regarding any suggested additions or improvements. The workshop was attended by representatives from government, national travel agencies and tour operators. The workshop as part of AADCP II s project covering Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Tourism Professional’ that has been signed by all AMS in 2009 aimed to contribute to improve competency-based educational and training for tourism professions in tourism sector across ASEAN Member countries. Detail information on Myanmar national workshop can be found here. More information on national workshop conducted in Brunei Darussalam can be found here...
by Fithri Saifa | Feb 29, 2016 | News
The AADCP II and ASEAN Connectivity Division of ASEAN Secretariat held five series of policy labs on 15 -19 February in Singapore as part of process to formulate the Post -2015 Agenda for the ASEAN Connectivity. The labs brought together 100 participants, brought together almost 100 key experts from various government line ministries, private and social sectors to brainstorm on prioritized issues of five strategic areas of connectivity specifically on; sustainable infrastructure; digital innovation, seamless logistics, regulatory excellence, and education, skills and travel mobility with attempts to develop specific initiatives and implementation plans. The development of post 2015 agenda for ASEAN connectivity has started since July 2015, with the survey on global developments and emerging trends, followed by the comprehensive review of the implementation of the current Master Plan of the ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC). The next steps to the policy labs are the refinement of draft initiatives and implementation plans, followed with in-depth consultations with key experts, and finalization of the Post 2015 ASEAN Connectivity Agenda. The Master Plan ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 will be formally released during the ASEAN Summit in 2016....
by Fithri Saifa | Nov 23, 2015 | News
The ASEAN Secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launched the ASEAN Investment Report 2015: Infrastructure Investment and Connectivity at the ASEAN Business Summit 2015 at the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN Summit on 20 November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This publication was prepared with the support of the Government of Australia through the ASEAN Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase II (AADCP II). ASEAN Investment Report is an annual publication on the development of investment and other related issues in the region. This year, the ASEAN Investment Report reviews the rise of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows into ASEAN and highlights the role of corporate players in infrastructure development and regional connectivity. Improved infrastructure is essential for sustaining economic growth in ASEAN as it enhances logistical efficiency, reduces transaction costs and supports greater flow of trade and investment. The ASEAN Investment Report 2015 is now available for download here and at the InvestASEAN website....
