AADCP NEWS No.11, September 2006
Page 1: AADCP News
In this Edition:
ASEAN Regional Capital Markets Training Program Completed New Standard Operating Procedures for Live Food Finfish ASEAN Good Agricultural Practice Standard Endorsed Regional Skills Recognition Arrangements Enhanced ASEAN +6 Research Initiative
Integrated ASEAN Tourism Investment Zone Proposed AADCP Events: October 06 – January 07
ASEAN-AUSTRALIA DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROGRAM CONTRIBUTES TO VAP IMPLEMENTATION
Australia was one of ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partners and ASEAN and Australia have developed a strong, mature and diverse relationship over 32 years of cooperation on mutually valuable initiatives.
From the outset, ASEAN-Australian relations have been underpinned by practical support for ASEAN’s development. The ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP) is the latest phase of this tangible support.
AADCP activities are guided by ASEAN’s development strategies, initially the Hanoi Plan of Action (HPA) and most recently the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) 2004-2010.
The VAP is a comprehensive workplan for regional economic integration, security and socio-cultural community building and narrowing the development gap between ASEAN member states, with the aim of establishing an ASEAN Community by 2020.
AADCP’s three streams play a complementary role in progressing VAP objectives.
The Regional Economic Policy Support Facility (REPSF) focuses on policy research and analysis on issues of ASEAN regional economic priority.
The Program Stream (PS) comprises medium-term activities aimed at advancing regional integration and strengthening ASEAN’s competitiveness in global markets.
AADCP activities give special attention to newer ASEAN Member Countries - Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV).
This edition of AADCP News describes how complementary AADCP activities are supporting ASEAN community building in several priority sectors (tourism, customs and animal health) and overall implementation of the VAP.
See Page 5 for a Profile Article on AADCP’s contribution to VAP implementation in these three sectors.
NEW PUBLICATION ON ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Economic Analytical Unit recently issued a report on ASEAN: Building an Economic Community.
In launching the report on 6 July 2006, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Alexander Downer MP, emphasised the potential benefits of ASEAN economic integration.
Mr. Downer said the report examines challenges facing ASEAN in implementing its vision by 2020 and economic imperatives for forging ahead.
He urged Australian business to pay close attention to developments in the region. This enhances the importance of the Australia-ASEAN-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement under negotiation.
See www.dfat.gov.au/eau for report details.
Page 2: Regional Partnerships Scheme News
ASEAN REGIONAL CAPITAL MARKETS TRAINING PROGRAM COMPLETED
In late April 2006, the ASEAN Regional Capital Markets Training Program,
implemented by Australian Coordinating Partner, Finsia Education, in conjunction with the ASEAN Secretariat, held its final training course. In opening the course, Mr. Punsak Vejanurug, Chairman, Capital Market Education, Stock Exchange of Thailand, spoke of the size and potential of the ASEAN region as a hub for capital market activity and the need for ASEAN members to work collectively to make this vision a reality.
Training courses were facilitated by Finsia Education and seven guest presenters, who shared insights and detailed case studies on the development of capital markets from the perspective of ASEAN Member Countries, Australia, the United States, Japan and Korea. Participants were encouraged to share insights concerning the development of capital markets in their countries, and time was allocated through class exercises to look at specific initiatives that would assist further capital market development throughout the region.
Specific efforts were made to promote gender equity throughout the conduct of the program. Female representation on the training committee ensured that barriers would not be presented to women’s participation in the program. Female presenters were selected to act as role models and showcase women in senior roles in capital markets in ASEAN and non-ASEAN countries.
The training committee responsible for development and administration of the program was comprised of: the ASEAN Secretariat; Finsia Education (formerly Securities Institute of Australia); the Securities Investment Development Corporation (SIDC) of Malaysia; and the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) of the Philippines.
Training provided through this project will assist Member Countries in: economic development and reform in the region and in ASEAN; regional cooperation across ASEAN; sharing of information amongst ASEAN nations; and development of a network of finance professionals in the region. The two training courses have supported cross-regional discussion about capital markets policy formulation.
NEW STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR LIVE FOOD FINFISH Under the Operationalise Guidelines on Responsible Movement of Live Food Finfish Project, aquatic animal health and quarantine staff from ASEAN nations are developing draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for responsible movement of live food finfish.
In mid-April 2006, the ASEAN Secretariat, Network of Aquaculture Centres for Asia and the Pacific (NACA) and AusVet Animal Health Services organised the project’s first policy review and development workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, followed by training on NACA’s Aquatic Animal Pathogen Quarantine Information System.
In opening the workshop, Dr. Ibrahim Bin Saleh, Deputy Director-General of the Malaysian Department of Fisheries, emphasised the importance of harmonising the requirements for movement of aquatic animals in ASEAN.
The 19 workshop participants developed a framework for the SOPs, including chapters on handling rejected or diseased consignments and on auditing and monitoring compliance.
meeting in Johor Bahru, Malaysia in mid-September 2006 to collate the groups’ efforts and write the first draft of the SOPs. The Malaysian Department of Fisheries hosted the meeting.
Page 3: Program Stream News
ASEAN GOOD AGRICULTUREAL PRACTICE STANDARD ENDORSED
The Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables Project, managed by RMIT International Pty Ltd, in association with the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland, will finish in February 2007.
The key project output is the development of the ASEAN Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Standard. The ASEAN GAP is a voluntary standard to prevent risks to food safety, produce quality, the environment, and workers' health and safety, associated with the production, harvesting and post-harvest handling of fresh fruit and vegetables in ASEAN.
The ASEAN GAP Standard was presented to the 13th Meeting of the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Crops (ASWGC) in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 28 June 2006. The ASWGC endorsed the ASEAN GAP Standard and presented it to the Senior Officials Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry in August 2006 for formal adoption by ASEAN. The Standard will be published and promoted throughout the ASEAN region.
The ASEAN GAP is not a certified system in its own right. It is a voluntary umbrella standard that individual member countries benchmark their national programs against to gain equivalence.
Farmers are audited and certification is issued by their country GAP program. The ASEAN GAP was developed through workshops with representatives from each ASEAN Member Country. An ASEAN GAP Taskforce was developed, which drew on the experiences of national GAP programs in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Future development of ASEAN GAP will involve seeking equivalence with international GAP programs.
ASEAN GAP could harmonise National GAP Programs in the region. The development of an internationally recognised GAP standard will facilitate trade between ASEAN countries and export to global markets, improve viability for farmers, help sustain a safe food supply and protect the environment.
REGIONAL SKILLS RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENTS ENHANCED
A new approach to regional integration of ASEAN Member Countries has been developed through the AADCP Program Stream Enhancing Skills Recognition Arrangements in ASEAN Project.
The initial stage of the project identified the uneven development of national skills qualifications frameworks across the newer ASEAN Member Countries as a major barrier to achieving an ASEAN-wide skills recognition system.
An extension to the original project established a sub-regional skills recognition
framework specifically for the Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam (CLMV) group of countries and Thailand.
The framework was piloted across the countries and agreement was reached on common sets of competencies for five occupations: welder; air conditioning technician; poultry farm worker; tour guide; and concreter.
The novel mechanism for these achievements was national Working Groups, chaired by a senior labour officer in each country. Working Groups established Technical Review Groups for each occupation.
Specialist input from some of the older ASEAN Member Countries – Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines – ensured that the newer Member Countries could learn from their experience.
The five countries finalised agreement on the regional qualifications framework and pilot regional competencies at a workshop in Bangkok, Thailand.
The project held its final activity, a Project Coordinating Group meeting of
representatives from all 10 ASEAN Member Countries, in Bangkok on 30 August 2006.
This meeting provided an opportunity to review progress and consider options for further steps in establishing the skills recognition framework across the ASEAN region.
Page 4: Regional Economic Policy Support Facility
News
ASEAN +6 RESEARCH INITIATIVE TO BE UNDERTAKEN
In March 2006 at the Regional Economic Policy Support Facility (REPSF) 7th Research
Priorities Committee (RPC) meeting, the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) and AusAID agreed that that this initiative should be implemented through the REPSF, which is currently due to conclude in early 2007.
It was decided that a targeted design mission should be undertaken to identify the scope, focus and balance of the Initiative within the broad purpose announced by Minister Downer.
AusAID initiated a design mission in July - August 2006 for the extension of REPSF that will be implemented by Melbourne Development Institute Pty Ltd (MDI International), the Australian Managing Contractor for the program, and AusAID’s Asia Economic desk in Canberra.
ASEAN Secretariat representatives welcomed, “…Australia’s interest and support for research examining economic integration between ASEAN and the Plus Six Countries” whilst tapping into “…the synergies in both the current REPSF and the new initiative”. They reiterated that “REPSF has served the ASEAN Secretariat and AusAID well” and the extension “…should aim to build on its success”.
It is anticipated that the outcomes of the design mission will form the basis of discussions at the next RPC meeting in December 2006. In the interim, work is underway on
REPSF’s largest research study to date – a series of linked sub-studies on barriers to the integration of ASEAN’s 11 priority industry sectors.
In addition to a conceptual framework, the study will include case studies of three
priority sectors and a region-wide business survey of obstacles to trade in the 10 ASEAN Member Countries.
INTEGRATED ASEAN TOURISM INVESTMENT ZONE PROPOSED
Australian company, William Angliss Institute (WAI), an industry specialist in tourism and hospitality, and RAM Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd (RAMCS) of Malaysia, a specialist firm in economic and investment research, recently completed the ASEAN Tourism Investment Study. Mr. Wayne Crosbie and Ms. Catherine Ng from WAI, and Dr. Yeah Kim Leng and Ms. Julie Ng from RAMCS, undertook a comprehensive review of the ASEAN tourism investment environment and recommended strategies to develop an integrated ASEAN Tourism Investment Zone (ATIZ).
A regional field survey undertaken as part of the project revealed that the key
impediments faced by current tourism investors are the political and legal frameworks. Not withstanding these impediments and the competitive nature of the tourism industry, the majority of private investors interviewed expressed strong interest to continue investing in the industry. This is due to the high growth potential of the region.
eco-tourism, cruise ship and health tourism. The ATIZ, which will create trans-border tourism clusters, was proposed as an outcome of the program.
Three high potential thematic cluster opportunities identified for the proposed ATIZ are: Heritage Tourism Cluster; Eco-tourism Cluster; and Cruise Cluster. The ATIZ, a
pioneering initiative of ASEAN Member Countries, has significant potential for
continued growth and development in translating tourism into job and enterprise creation. This will create an environment for greater tourism investment and increased economic benefits for ASEAN Member Countries.
The survey findings and draft Policy Framework for the Establishment of an Integrated ATIZ were presented by the study team to the ASEAN Tourism Investment Taskforce in May 2006 in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
Page 5: AADCP Profile
AADCP SUPPORTS VAP IMPLEMENTATION IN TOURISM, CUSTOMS AND ANIMAL HEALTH SECTORS
This article profiles AADCP’s contribution to the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) in the tourism, customs and animal health sectors. AADCP also contributes to monitoring progress in VAP implementation.
Tourism
Tourism is one of 11 priority sectors designated for ‘fast-track’ integration by 2010. These were selected on the basis of ASEAN’s comparative advantage in natural resources, labour skills and cost competitiveness, and potential to add value to ASEAN’s economy.
AADCP’s Regional Economic Policy Support Facility (REPSF) has sponsored an
ASEAN Tourism Investment Study(see article page 4), the findings of which will assist in marketing investment opportunities within an ASEAN Integrated Tourism Investment Zone. Another study will be undertaken to assess the impact of the Visit ASEAN Campaign, which aims to position ASEAN as a single tourism destination.
The AADCP Regional Partnerships Scheme (RPS) contributes to the tourism sector through three projects.
The ASEAN Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals Project has developed a regional benchmark for qualifications and certification in the hospitality and tourism sectors. The Developing Common ASEAN Tourism Curriculum Project is developing a common tourism course curriculum and regional qualifications framework.
Tourism Professionals framework through Member Country Technical Reference Groups, revise the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan, and, with the ASEAN Secretariat, design systems and mechanisms to support realisation of the MRA in Tourism.
Customs Services
The VAP calls for upgrading and harmonisation of ASEAN’s customs services in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) standards and the 2005-2010 ASEAN Strategic Plan of Customs Development.
REPSF has commissioned two relevant research activities. Harmonisation and Integration of Customs Valuation Policies and Practices in the ASEAN Region explored ASEAN’s progress in implementing the WTO Valuation Agreement and analysed relevant provisions, policies and practices in ASEAN. Harmonisation and Integration of Customs Cargo Processing Policies and Practices in the ASEAN Region assessed ASEAN countries’ progress in adopting world-class ‘single window’ cargo processing and proposed strategies to overcome constraints.
The AADCP Program Stream (PS) has drawn on these studies for an Enhanced Customs Capacity Building in ASEAN Project, which is working to establish an ASEAN regulatory framework for cargo processing and customs valuation.
Animal Health
Australia and ASEAN have a keenly shared interest in livestock disease control and a strong history of cooperation in this field.
The PS Strengthening Animal Health Management and Biosecurity in ASEAN Project
(SAHMBA) focused on disease risk analysis, capacity building in animal disease surveillance, and established a regional web-based information system.
The RPS Establishment of a Reference Laboratory for the Southeast Asian Foot and Mouth Disease Control Program is supporting accreditation of a Thailand laboratory as a regional reference laboratory for the control of livestock Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and providing associated training in FMD diagnostic techniques.
Two other RPS projects are contributing in this area. The Strengthening Aquatic Animal Health Capacity and Biosecurity in ASEAN Project is assisting ASEAN countries with training and development of guidelines for promoting aquatic animal health. The
Operationalise Guidelines on Responsible Movement of Live Food Finfish Project is also providing support (see article page 2).
Support for VAP Institutional Arrangements
The PS ASEAN Technical Assistance Linkages and Training (TALT) Facility will, following its inception in September 2006, support ASEC to coordinate VAP initiatives. PS is also providing assistance to ASEC in monitoring and evaluation of VAP implementation.
REPSF has commissioned two studies into cross-cutting aspects of VAP implementation:
Resource Mobilisation for the Implementation of the VAP: A Background Paper and Monitoring and Impact Mechanism for the VAP: A Background Paper.
RPS has supported VAP implementation through its Project Design Support Program, which helped strengthen project design capacity in key economic sectors. A current RPS project is aimed at Statistical Capacity Building for Harmonisation of ASEAN International Trade in Goods and Services Indicators.
Page 6: AADCP Events
October 2006
• September - October: Training of Farmer Groups by Local Trainers, for the PS Project
Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables, Cambodia
• September - October: Training of Farmer Groups by Local Trainers, for the PS Project
Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables, Lao PDR
• September - October: Training of Farmer Groups by Local Trainers, for the PS Project
Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables, Myanmar
• September - October: Training of Farmer Groups by Local Trainers, for the PS Project
Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables, Viet Nam
• September - October: Validation and revision of 2nd Draft Common ASEAN Tourism Curriculum (CATC) and Regional Qualifications Framework and Skills Recognition System (RQFSRS), for the RPS Project Developing Common ASEAN Tourism Curriculum, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Viet Nam
• 22nd October - 3rd November: Laboratory Information Management Training, for the RPS Project Establishment of a Reference Laboratory for the Southeast Asian Foot and Mouth Disease Control Program, Australia
• 22nd October - 3rd November: Laboratory Quality Systems/Molecular Diagnosis Training, for the RPS Project Establishment of a Reference Laboratory for the Southeast Asian Foot and Mouth Disease Control Program, Australia
• Dates to be confirmed: Mentoring Visit, for the PS Project Strengthening ASEAN Plant Health Capacity, Cambodia
• Dates to be confirmed: Mentoring Visit, for the PS Project Strengthening ASEAN Plant Health Capacity, Viet Nam
• Dates to be confirmed: Project Coordination Group Meeting, for the PS Project
Strengthening ASEAN Plant Health Capacity, Viet Nam
November 2006
• 6th - 10th: ASEAN-Australia Advanced Training Workshop on Industrial Designs Examination, for the RPS Project Advanced Training in Intellectual Property Search and Examination Procedures for IP Offices in the ASEAN Region, Malaysia
• 12th - 18th: In-Country Assistance, for the RPS Project Strengthening Aquatic Animal Health Capacity and Biosecurity in ASEAN, Viet Nam
• 16th - 17th: Trainers Workshop, for the PS Project Strengthening ASEAN Standards and Conformity Assessment Systems, Brunei Darussalam
• 20th - 22nd: Chemical and Microbiological Recall Workshops, for the PS Project
Strengthening Risk Assessment Capability to Support Food Safety Measures, Myanmar
• 21st - 22nd: ASEAN Heads of Statistical Offices Meeting (AHSOM 7), for the RPS Project Capacity Building For Harmonisation of ASEAN International Trade in Goods and Services Indicators, Brunei Darussalam
• 22nd: Project Coordination Group Meeting, for the PS Project Strengthening Risk Assessment Capability to Support Food Safety Measures, Myanmar
• 27th - 29th: Workshop, for the PS Project Legal Infrastructure for E-Commerce in ASEAN, Brunei Darussalam
• 26th November - 2nd December: Microbiological Containment Engineering Maintenance, for the RPS Project Establishment of a Reference Laboratory for the Southeast Asian Foot and Mouth Disease Control Program, Australia
• 26th November - 2nd December: Laboratory Quality Systems, Microbiological Containment Practices, for the RPS Project Establishment of a Reference Laboratory for the Southeast Asian Foot and Mouth Disease Control Program, Australia
• 26th November - 9th December: Biosecurity Laboratory and Microbiological Containment Practices and Laboratory Training, for the RPS Project Establishment of a Reference Laboratory for the Southeast Asian Foot and Mouth Disease Control Program, Australia
• 27th November - 8th December: Technical Reference Group Training Workshop, for the RPS Project ASEAN Capacity Building for a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) in Tourism, Thailand
• October - November: Validation and revision of 2nd Draft Common ASEAN Tourism Curriculum (CATC) and Regional Qualifications Framework and Skills Recognition System (RQFSRS), for the RPS Project Developing Common ASEAN Tourism Curriculum, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Indonesia
• 30th November – 1st December: 8th Joint Selection and Review Panel Meeting, for the AADCP Regional Partnerships Scheme, Indonesia
• Dates to be confirmed: Project Coordination Group Meeting, for the PS Project Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables, Thailand
• Dates to be confirmed: ASEAN GAP Taskforce Meeting, for the PS Project Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables, Thailand
• Dates to be confirmed: Training Workshop, for the PS Project Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruit and Vegetables, Thailand
• Dates to be confirmed: Taxonomy Workshop No. 2, for the PS Project Strengthening ASEAN Plant Health Capacity, location to be confirmed
• Dates to be confirmed: Pest List Consolidation Workshop, for the PS Project
Strengthening ASEAN Plant Health Capacity, location to be confirmed
December 2006
• 19th: 8th Research Priorities Committee (RPC) Meeting, for the AADCP Regional Economic Policy Support Facility, Indonesia
January 2007
• No activities currently scheduled
Event details are subject to change.
CONTACTS
Regional Partnerships Scheme (RPS)
Maria Eloida Cruz Balamiento
Project Coordinator
The ASEAN Secretariat, Second Floor 70A Jl. Sisingamangaraja
Jakarta 12110 INDONESIA
Tel +62 21 724 3372, 726 2991 (ext 150) Fax +62 21 7278 7252
Jakarta 12110 INDONESIA
Tel +62 21 724 3372, 726 2991 (ext. 152) Fax +62 21 7278 7252
Jakarta 12110 INDONESIA
Tel +62 21 724 3372, 726 2991 (ext. 411) Fax +62 21 722 9028
Level 27, 150 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000 AUSTRALIA Tel +61 3 8676 6811
Fax +61 3 8676 6888
