by Irene Wijaya | Mar 21, 2022 | Cross Cutting Issues, Technical Reports
These series of infographics highlights the background and content of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF), which was adopted at the 37th ASEAN Summit in November 2020. Click the images to download the infographic series. Series 1: COVID-19 Impact and ASEAN Collective Response Series 2: the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and its Implementation Plan Series 3: ACRF Broad Strategy 1: Enhancing Health Systems Series 4: ACRF Broad Strategy 2: Strengthening Human Security Series 5: ACRF Broad Strategy 3: Maximising the Potential of intra-ASEAN market Series 6: ACRF Broad Strategy 4: Inclusive Digital Transformation Series 7: ACRF Broad Strategy 4: Sustainable and Resilient Future Related project: Establishment of an ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) Support...
by Irene Wijaya | Mar 8, 2022 | Cross Cutting Issues, Technical Reports
The e-commerce sector has proven to be a big driver of economic growth in ASEAN, with the size of ASEAN’s digital economy expected to reach 8.5% of the region’s GDP in 2025 as compared to 1.3% in 2015. This digitalisation trend is further accelerated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – online transactions are increasingly becoming the norm given the frequent movement restrictions or ‘lock-downs’ imposed by governments in order to curtail the spread of the disease. ASEAN has long recognised the potential of e-commerce in the region. The initiative to implement an ASEAN Trust Mark Scheme was specifically set out in the 2020 ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) in recognition of the value it will bring in, amongst others, harmonising the ASEAN Member States governments’ respective e-commerce legislations and reducing uncertainty and cost of online transactions for consumers which will in turn bolster the volume of transactions with e-shops awarded under the Scheme. ASEAN has commissioned this Study to determine the costs and benefits of the Scheme, obtain an understanding of existing national trust mark mechanisms within ASEAN, and receive policy recommendations for operationalising the Scheme. This Study concludes that there is currently no operational regional e-commerce trust mark scheme at the ASEAN level, and that the characteristics, scope, degree of implementation, compliance and level of enforcement of national e-commerce-related trust mark schemes vary across the different AMS. This is notwithstanding that a regional e-commerce trust mark scheme will likely be beneficial to both consumers and e-shops. This Study recommends that the Scheme be operationalised as a dual-layered accreditation scheme, where a trusted regional body such as ASEAN (or...
by Irene Wijaya | Oct 28, 2021 | Cross Cutting Issues, Technical Reports
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is reshaping economies and societies around the globe. The opportunities arising from its evolution in ASEAN are limitless. The 4IR offers people the opportunity to grow better connected, helps economies grow and become more competitive, empowers ASEAN’s citizens and improves their livelihoods through digitalising the provision of basic social services, and helps society decarbonise to meet sustainable development challenges confronting the region. Turning these opportunities into reality requires that stakeholders work to develop and implement coordinated initiatives to embrace fully the 4IR while addressing potential risks that might arise. Leveraging the 4IR’s technological advances and building on existing initiatives across the region, the Consolidated Strategy on the 4IR for ASEAN aims to provide policy guidance in building the ASEAN Digital Community across the three Pillars of ASEAN: the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASSC). This Consolidated Strategy on the 4IR for ASEAN identifies three focus areas, namely Technological Governance and Security; Digital Economy and Digital Transformation of Society. To operationalise the key focus areas, the Strategy proposes three immediate, medium-term, and longer-term priorities for cooperation. Download the Consolidated-Strategy-on-the-4IR-for-ASEAN [4,943...
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 Kaisar | Sep 7, 2016 | Cross Cutting Issues, Technical Reports
The Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), launched in 2000, helps ASEAN’s newer Member States implement ASEAN commitments and agreements. Through special assistance to Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV countries), it aims to further regional integration in order to narrow the development gap within ASEAN. This Work Plan III is a five-year work plan (2016-2020) to realise the vision for IAI and assist CLMV countries to meet ASEAN-wide targets and commitments towards realising the goals of the ASEAN Community. It describes work in 5 strategic areas: food and agriculture, trade facilitation, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), education, and health and well-being. Download...
by Kaisar | Feb 15, 2015 | Cross Cutting Issues, Technical Reports
Responding to the “The Phnom Penh Agenda 2012” which called for a comprehensive Mid-term Review (MTR) of the IAI Work Plan II, this study has been commissioned to stock-take the implementation of the IAI Work Plan II; map the Work Plan with other sub-regional, multilateral and trilateral development projects/programs; set out concrete and practical measures to expedite the implementation of Work Plan II; and recommend its future direction. The review was timely and important for the future direction of the IAI. Since the formulation of IAI Work Plan II in 2008, the landscape of development cooperation activities in CLMV/Mekong sub-region has significantly changed. This included the emerging of several ASEAN owned initiatives like Master Plan for ASEAN Connectivity, ASEAN Framework for Equitable Economic Development, ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation, and ASEAN Framework Action Plan on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication. All these initiatives share many things in common with the IAI Work Plan II. In addition, there are now at least a dozen sub-regional fora with the name Mekong which also share IAI goals and objectives and encompass several IAI WP Priority Actions. These changes and development have called for a thorough review of IAI WP II Implementation in regard to its relevance, performance and success as well as the complementarities of other regional/subregional development frameworks with the IAI Work Plan. Downloads Main Report...
