by Fithri Saifa | Jul 30, 2015 | News
The development of the ASEAN WITS is one of the components under the AEC Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity Building Program Project, a joint undertaking of the World Bank, ASEAN Secretariat and AADCP II. It is intended to develop a database that can be utilised for analysis of trade flows and liberalization initiatives by linking trade and tariff data. The tool, the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) developed by the World Bank in collaboration with WTO, UNCTAD/TRAIN allows simulations, for example, to see the impact of a change in tariff policy. The customized ASEAN WITS is intended to meet specific needs of ASEAN. A training workshop to familiarize ASEAN Secretariat staff with WITS and also understand the issues that affect better utilization of the data on tariffs and trade was conducted in 25-26 June 2015 at the ASEAN Secretariat. The workshop achieved a modest success with around 30 participants in attendance. For more info, please contact the ASEAN Integration Monitoring Office (AIMO) of The ASEAN...
by Kaisar | Apr 23, 2015 | News
Taken as group, ASEAN would already be the seventh-largest economy in the world with a combined GDP of $2.4 trillion in 2013, and with a growing population of more than 600 million people, it is a hub of growing consumer demand. While not all ASEAN Member States (AMS) have effective consumer protection legislations and programs in place, ensuring consumer protection in terms of law is of little value unless these are properly enforced. Consumer policy strategy must constantly adapt to the global environment in which consumers live. Fast-evolving technologies are changing citizen’s lives, the way people communicate and their relationship with products. “Development of Public Awareness Models for Consumer Protection,” is an on-going project of AADCP II intended to support the development of more comprehensive consumer awareness and education programs within ASEAN Member States. The 2nd consultative workshop held at the ASEAN Secretariat on April 8-9, 2015 discussed consumer awareness and education models that AMS can follow and guidelines for selecting the appropriate models. http://www.asean.org/news/asean-secretariat-news/item/asean-china-reaffirm-commitment-to-forge-closer-cooperation...
by Kaisar | Apr 23, 2015 | News
29 March 2012 marked the entry into force of the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA). The agreement, signed by the ASEAN Economic Ministers, was in response to the compettive global environment for foreign direct investments with the aim of creating a freer and more open investment regime in ASEAN based on international best practices. ACIA is an enhanced agreement that encompasses 4 pillars, namely: liberalisation, facilitation, protection, and promotion. An important element of ACIA is the protection of investments, including the issue of the settlement of disputes, particularly Investor-to-State dispute. It will ensure that ASEAN remains an attractive destination for investors, taking into account investors’ needs and interests through improved transparency, consistency and detailed mechanisms to address disputes. To improve the understanding of the ACIA provisions among the policy makers, academia and the business sector utilizing the ACIA Guidebook and Handbook for Investment Promotion Agencies (IPA), which were produced under the an earlier AADCP funded project, “Promoting ACIA,” a series of socialisation forums for investors and seminars for frontline staff of ASEAN investment promotion agencies are being held in various ASEAN countries. Jakarta joins Kuala Lumpur and Manila as former hosts to these events. Additional information from the Jakarta forum and seminar on April 15-16, 2015 can be found here. The next ACIA socialisation activities will be held in Brunei International Convention Centre (ICC), Berakas, Brunei Darussalam on May 6-7, 2015 and hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and...
