Regional Partnerships Scheme Program Stream Regional Economic Policy Support Facility
the ASEAN Economic Community,
go to: http://www.dfat.gov.au/asean/ plan_of_action.html.
No. 15, January 2008 Key Developments at the 13th ASEAN Summit
In this Edition
The 13th ASEAN Summit, chaired by Prime Minister of Singapore HE Lee Hsien Loong, was held in Singapore on 18-22 November 2007, and attended by Heads of State of ASEAN Member Countries. Key Summit developments relevant to the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program were the signing of the ASEAN Charter and the Declaration on the Blueprint for the ASEAN Economic Community.
The ASEAN Charter, signed on
20 November 2007, establishes ASEAN as a legal entity with a rules-based structure, to strengthen ASEAN’s effectiveness in the region and globally. It sets out ASEAN’s shared vision and values for building a regional community with a people-centred focus. The Charter will come into force once it has been ratified by all ASEAN Member Countries. To read the ASEAN Charter, go to: http://www.aseansec.org/AC.htm.
The Declaration on the Blueprint for
Director-General of ASEAN-Singapore, HE Jacky Foo (left), presents Singapore’s Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Charter to new Secretary-General of ASEAN, HE Dr. Surin Pitsuwan. Photo: ASEAN Secretariat
also signed on 20 November 2007, is “a master plan that guides ASEAN towards achieving an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015 by clearly identifying economic integration measures and detailing commitments, targets and timelines for their implementation. The end-goal of the AEC 2015 is the realisation of a single market and production base, in which there is a free flow of goods, services, investments and skilled labour, and a freer flow of capital, with equitable economic development and reduced poverty and socio-economic disparities”. A Strategic Schedule maps out timelines for implementation of measures. A scorecard mechanism will be developed to monitor, review and assess implementation of measures, for ensuring compliance to commitments.
To read about the Blueprint, go to: http://www.13thaseansummit.sg The Third East Asia Summit (EAS) was held on 21 November 2007 as part of the 13th ASEAN Summit. ASEAN Member Countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand participated in the Summit. The main focus of the EAS was climate change. The resultant Singapore Declaration
on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment commits East Asia Summit
participants to joint action in protecting carbon sinks, energy efficiency and conservation, sustainable forest management and technology transfer. It calls on countries to cooperate in deployment of clean technology, exchange of scientific and technical information, joint studies and capacity- building support. During the EAS, ASEAN and Australia issued a joint press statement on adoption of the Plan of Action to implement the Joint Declaration on
ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Partnership. To read the plan of action,
- ASEAN Tourism Sector Supported ASEAN Community Progress Monitoring • Report Developed Customs Capacity in ASEAN Enhanced • East Asia Summit Finance Cooperation • REPSF Book Launched • AADCP Events: Jan – Jun 08 •
ASEAN – Australia Development Cooperation Program
Regional Partnerships Scheme Program Stream Regional Economic Policy Support Facility aadcp news
Regional Partnerships Scheme News ASEAN Tourism Sector Integration Supported
Through the ASEAN Community Progress
at the Eighth ASEAN Heads of Statistical Offices Meeting (AHSOM), held 17-18 December 2007 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In recognition of the significant value of the monitoring system developed through the project, the Meeting agreed it should be the core statistical support for regional initiatives towards creating an ASEAN Community.
Monitoring System Project was discussed
updated every two years by the ASEAN Secretariat. The ASEAN Community Progress
Brief and the ASEAN Report will then be
indicators for measuring the progress of the ASEAN Community together with more detail on each indicator. The full report will also include recommendations regarding the political and security pillar and is scheduled for publication in February 2008. It is intended that both the ASEAN
Report, which will provide the full set of
information publication to participants, media and the general public at the 13th ASEAN Summit held in Singapore, 18-22 November 2007. In his foreword to the Brief, outgoing Secretary-General of ASEAN, HE Ong Keng Yong said, “This ASEAN Brief is designed to highlight the progress of ASEAN integration, community building and development. It plots this progress by means of quantitative indicators of the economic and socio-cultural pillars”. The ASEAN Brief can be downloaded at: http://www.melbourneinstitute.com/ asean/asean_brief.pdf. The second output will be the ASEAN
ASEAN Brief - was distributed as an
Two key outputs will be delivered through the project. The first output - a 10 page
from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and the Philippines Institute for Development Studies are working with the Statistics Unit of the ASEAN Secretariat to produce a report which tracks the development of the ASEAN Community. The team has built on the ASEAN Baseline Report developed by the ASEAN-UNDP Partnership Facility and published in April 2006.
Monitoring System Project, economists
ASEAN Community Progress Monitoring Report Developed
The Developing Common ASEAN Tourism
Participants in the Train the Trainer Program held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, in June 2007.
AADCP News.
project being implemented by UniQuest will feature in the May 2008 edition of
Recognition Arrangement in Tourism
Both projects are being implemented in partnership with the Task Force and the ASEAN Secretariat, and undertaken in close consultation with ASEAN Member Countries. The Capacity Building for a Mutual
ASEAN Tourism Agreement and ASEAN Roadmap for Integration of Tourism Sector.
current Regional Partnerships Scheme tourism manpower development projects supporting implementation of the 2002
Tourism Curriculum Project is one of two
Between April and June 2007, the project team conducted workshops in all ASEAN Member Countries to enable stakeholders from the government, education/training and industry sectors to share information on the project outcomes and discuss specific implementation issues relating to the curriculum and qualifications framework. In June 2007, a Train the Trainer program was held in Hanoi, Viet Nam to support implementation in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam. Sixteen representatives were trained to implement the competency-based curriculum and use the associated frameworks and skills recognition systems. In July 2007, the Task Force supported the extension of the project to April 2008, to develop detailed units of competence for six labour divisions, building on the ASEAN Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals developed under a previous RPS project. These will support implementation of the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) in Tourism, which, ultimately, will facilitate skilled labour mobility, contributing to economic integration of the region. The six labour divisions the project extension will focus on are: food and beverage; housekeeping; front office; food production; travel agents; and tour operations. The standard template for the units of competence was endorsed by the Task Force in September 2007. The Developing Common ASEAN
William Angliss Institute, has developed the Common ASEAN Tourism Curriculum and Regional Qualifications Framework and Skills Recognition System. Both the curriculum and recognition system were endorsed by the ASEAN Task Force on Tourism Manpower Development (Task Force) Meeting in April 2007.
Curriculum Project, being implemented by
Participants at the Eighth ASEAN Heads of Statistical Offices Meeting (AHSOM), held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 17-18 December 2007.
Program Stream News
Program Stream Update
The 7th AADCP Program Stream Program Coordination Committee (PCC) meeting was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 26-27 September 2007. AusAID personnel, ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) Desk Officers and Senior Officials from the Coordination Unit, Regional Focal Points, Australian Implementing Partners, and the Cardno Acil management team participated.
As the Program Stream (PS) is now in its fifth and final year, the format of the meeting was changed to include a workshop on the second day: Reflections
of AADCP PS – Past & Future. Mr. Mike
Crooke, Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser, facilitated the workshop with support from the Cardno Acil Management Team. Program stakeholders discussed the achievements and lessons learned during Participants in the 7th Program Coordination Committee Meeting, held in Jakarta, Indonesia, 26-27 September 2007. project and program implementation. coordination and management. This was Program Stream projects. It is hoped
Issues discussed during group sessions a particularly successful interaction as it these findings will inform design and related to regional programming and was the first opportunity for stakeholders implementation of future activities in the design, capacity building and institutional to participate in discussion about the region. strengthening, and communication, success and lessons learned from all
Customs Capacity in ASEAN Enhanced
UniQuest Pty Ltd and the Australian Centre for Customs and Excise Studies (CCES) have been jointly implementing the
Enhanced Customs Capacity Building in ASEAN Project for the past three years.
The project aims to enhance the capacity of ASEAN Customs Administrations to develop and maintain a regulatory framework that improves customs efficiency and transparency for investors, traders and manufacturers throughout the region. Central to the framework is regional harmonisation, integration and organisational reform within the 10 ASEAN Member Countries.
Although Member Countries are at very different stages of maturity in terms of customs reform and modernisation, the project has made a significant contribution towards progressing regional harmonisation, integration and reform. Capacity building initiatives have focused on developing cargo processing and Attendees at the Fourth Project Coordination Group Meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 25 May 2007. customs valuation practices consistent with international standards, conventions the-trainer valuation program was also According to UniQuest Senior Project and agreements such as the International developed, based on the ASEAN Customs Coordinator Ms. Natalie Marinho, “100 Convention on the Simplification and
Valuation Guide. The project delivered regional customs officers have been Harmonisation of Customs Procedures, several workshops to enhance valuation trained to implement the cargo processing also known as the revised Kyoto capacity within ASEAN Member Country model and now possess the skills to Convention. customs administrations. train valuation officers within their own administrations. It is anticipated that
In June 2005, the ASEAN Directors- In Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and ASEAN as a region will use this cadre of General of Customs endorsed the Cargo
Viet Nam, the Enhanced Customs competent valuation trainers and cargo Processing Model developed by the Capacity Building in ASEAN Project also processing officers to their best collective project. Workshops were then conducted implemented on-the-job training activities. advantage”. to train regional customs officers in Participants appreciated the immediate implementation of the model. A train- relevance of the training.
Regional Economic Policy Support Facility News
Participants expressed significant interest in the AEC blueprint case study which was based on elements of the AEC Strategic Schedule. Participants applied the key monitoring and evaluation concepts to further develop the Schedule, proposing activities, possible indicators, targets, data sources and data collection methods for better implementation and monitoring of this key strategic document. Workshop participants agreed the training was effective in improving their knowledge and understanding of performance monitoring and evaluation. It provided tools to support them in undertaking monitoring and evaluation activities as part of their work.
- were familiar with the concept of performance monitoring and evaluation, implementation tools and procedures, responsibilities and deadlines;
- understood how to design a monitoring and evaluation system to measure the impact of programs, projects and/or activities; and
- were able to gain practical experience in planning and implementation of performance monitoring and evaluation systems that will help inform management and decision making.
The AEC Blueprint will require the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) to monitor and assess implementation progress of AEC Blueprint initiatives. To successfully undertake this responsibility, ASEC officers will need to have a good understanding of monitoring and evaluation concepts to support them in planning and implementing AEC activities and enable them to identify if programs, projects or activities are effective in achieving their goals.
The workshop was delivered through a combination of lectures and group exercises including a case study on the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint endorsed at the 13th ASEAN Summit held 18-22 November 2007.
The objective of the workshop was to ensure participants:
On 27-28 November 2007, REPSF conducted a monitoring and evaluation workshop for ASEAN Secretariat Staff in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Monitoring and Evaluation Course Held for ASEAN Secretariat Staff Dr. Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Finance Minister of Indonesia, delivering her opening remarks at the East Asia Summit (EAS) Regional and Financial Cooperation and Integration, Finance Ministry and Central Bank Senior Officials’ Workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 10 September 2007. Photo: Bank Indonesia.
East Asia Summit Finance Cooperation Options Identified
An Asian Forum for Financial 2. Supervisors and Regulators should be established. This would be a vehicle for providing technical expertise in financial supervision and regulation; developing and publishing guidelines of conduct to foster common understanding on regional regulatory issues; and harmonisation of regulations, policies and financial regulations.
Given that EAS participating 3. countries are at very different levels of financial sector development, the EAS could provide a platform for greater institutional capacity building in areas such as financial training and education, and greater cooperation in areas such as financial information and ASEAN infrastructure financing.
Over the longer term, there may 4. be a need for the establishment of an EAS ‘Virtual Secretariat’ to provide more efficient coordination of regional financial sector initiatives.
Fund (IMF) and G20, a caucus could be formed amongst EAS countries to give the region a “bigger voice”. Such a caucus could develop common positions on pertinent issues that affect global financial stability.
The need for further detailed studies, 5. particularly on each country’s preparedness for EAS finance cooperation.
The draft report was presented at the EAS Workshop on Regional Financial Cooperation and Integration held on 10 September 2007 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
This workshop was hosted by the Indonesian Ministry of Finance and attended by senior officials from the EAS participating countries.
Using inputs from the study and further discussions at the workshop, the senior finance officials subsequently submitted their proposals to the 3rd EAS held in Singapore on 21 November 2007. EAS Leaders welcomed the key recommendations on pursuing closer finance cooperation, including that of an Informal Senior EAS Finance Officials’ Dialogue.
As Asian countries are under- 1. represented at international forums such as the International Monetary
Based on their research findings, the study team developed a number of policy recommendations including:
The study team led by the former Governor of the Bank of Indonesia, Dr. Soedradjad Djiwandono, examined the existing regional framework for financial cooperation, taking into account the differences in economic and financial sector development of the 16 EAS participating countries, and suggested areas of cooperation that will complement existing initiatives in other regional forums.
ASEAN Secretariat in response to the East Asia Summit (EAS) Leaders’ mandate to identify possible areas and modalities for EAS finance cooperation.
(EAS) Finance Cooperation: A Scoping Study (07/001) was commissioned by the
REPSF study, Options for East Asia Summit
To overcome the constraints of available resources, the Secretariat would comprise a group of financial sector specialists located in their own organisations and countries but linked via the internet.
The Building of an ASEAN Economic Community
The ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP) Regional Economic Policy Support Facility (REPSF) has been providing high quality economic policy analysis and advice to ASEAN Member Countries and working groups on topics relating to ASEAN economic integration and competitiveness since 2002. In its first five years of operation, REPSF produced 50 research reports written by prominent policy experts and academics. Various themes from the research reports have been selected and presented in a new book titled Brick by
Brick: The Building of an ASEAN Economic Community, edited by Dr. Denis Hew and
published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in Singapore in conjunction with Asia Pacific Press.
Brick by Brick: the Building of an ASEAN Economic Community was launched in
November/December 2007 in three sites: Singapore; Australia; and Indonesia. The first book launch was in Singapore on
23 November 2007 at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and was attended by outgoing Secretary General of ASEAN, HE Ong Keng Yong, the previous convenor of REPSF and the originator of the idea for the book. The seminar proceedings and book launch can be viewed at http://www. iseas.edu.sg/webcast.htm. The second book launch was held on 11 December 2007 at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, and broadcast via video conference to Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Manila and Bangkok. The final book launch was in Jakarta, Indonesia, on
14 December 2007, with Mdm. Soeung Rathchavy, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN, and Ms. Louise Hand, Australia’s Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, jointly launching the book at the ASEAN Secretariat.
According to Dr. Hadi Soesastro, Executive Director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta, “The ASEAN Economic Community is a major project; its realisation will radically change the region’s economic and political landscape. The challenges are equally great. To overcome them requires the ‘brick-by-brick’ approach as thoughtfully proposed in this volume”.
Brick by Brick: the Building of an ASEAN Economic Community can be ordered
through the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies - http://bookshop.iseas.edu. sg/bookmarks/BM329/ - or Asia Pacific Press - http://www.asiapacificpress.com. The book includes an interactive CD-ROM containing all REPSF reports released and abstracts of other reports.
aadcp profile
Singapore Book Launch (L:R): Book Editor Dr. Denis Hew; Visiting Senior Research Fellow of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) and Former Secretary-General of ASEAN, Mr. Rodolfo C Severino; Director of ISEAS, Ambassador K Kesavapany; Former Secretary- General of ASEAN, HE Ong Keng Yong; and Australian High Commissioner, HE Miles Kupa, at the Brick by Brick Launch held at ISEAS in Singapore on 23 November 2007.
Jakarta Book Launch: Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN, Mdm Soeung Rathchavy (sixth from left), Australia’s Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, Ms. Louise Hand (seventh from left), and Representatives of the Embassies of ASEAN Member Countries, China and Timor Leste in Jakarta, Indonesia, at the Brick by Brick Launch at the ASEAN Secretariat on 14 December 2007.
Press Conference after the Brick by Brick Launch at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 14 December 2007. Canberra Book Launch: Deputy Director General of Asia Division, AusAID, Mr. Richard Moore, delivered a speech at the Brick by Brick Launch and Seminar held at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, on
• February: ASEC Core Coaching Group
training sessions 1 and 2 for PS Project,
- March: Workshop Draft Report Presentation for REPSF Project, Best Practices in the Introduction
Enabling ASEAN Project, Indonesia
- 21-25 January: Regional Review Workshop for RPS Project, Strengthening of Food
• February: Strategic Planning Workshop
for PS Project, Strengthening ASEAN
- March: Workshop Draft Report Presentation for REPSF Project,
- January: ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) Strategy Workshop for PS Project,
• February/March: Stakeholder Workshops
on implementation of units of competence
to promote tourism competency standards
uniformity and consistency across
ASEAN for RPS Project, Developing
- March: 11th Research Priorities Committee (RPC) Meeting for the REPSF Project, Indonesia.
• 3-5 March: Planning Workshop for RPS
Project, Harmonisation and Implementation
- May: 6th Meeting of the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP) Joint Planning Committee (JPC), Australia.
- May: 12th Meeting of the Joint Selection and Review Panel (JSRP) for the RPS program, Australia.
- 11-13 February: Pest List Evaluation Workshop for PS Project, Strengthening
Enabling ASEAN Project, Indonesia February 2008
Inspection and Certification for Shrimp and Bi-valve Molluscs in ASEAN Member Countries, Philippines
January 2008
Developing ASEAN’s Single Aviation Market (SAM) and regional air services arrangements with dialogue partners, Country location to be confirmed.
and Implementation of Competition Policy and Law in East Asian Summit Countries, Viet Nam
Capability in Risk Assessment in Support
of Food Safety Measures Project, Country
location to be confirmed- 4-15 February: Meetings with Government Officials, Standards and Conformity Roundtable Meeting, Electrical and Electronic Technical Workshop Meeting and In-Workplace Mentoring Activities for PS Project, Strengthening ASEAN
Common ASEAN Tourism Curriculum
Project, all ASEAN Member Countries March 2008- March: Evaluation Workshop for PS Project,
Strengthening Animal Health Management
in the ASEAN Region, ThailandMay 2008
Standards and Conformity Assessment Systems, Myanmar
ASEAN Plant Health Capacity Project, Thailand
of ASEAN Good Agricultural Practices
(GAP) Standards, Viet Nam- 14 February: Project Coordinating Group
• March: Workshop Draft Report
Presentation for REPSF Project, East
June 2008
of ASEAN Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Standards, Thailand
Capacity Building for an ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Tourism Professionals, Indonesia
for PS Project, Strengthening ASEAN Plant Health Capacity Project, Thailand
70A Jl. Sisingamangaraja Jakarta 12110 INDONESIA Tel. +62 21 722-0643, 726-2991 (ext. 463) Fax +62 21 722-9028 Email: monette@aseansec.org Sarah Black Project Manager GRM International Level 27, 150 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Vic 3000 AUSTRALIA Tel +61 3 8676 6800 Fax +61 3 8676 6888 Email: sarahb@grminternational.com aadcp events
Regional Economic Policy Support Facility (REPSF) Dr Ramonette Serafica Team Leader/Research Manager The ASEAN Secretariat, Ground Floor
70A Jl. Sisingamangaraja Jakarta 12110 INDONESIA Tel. +62 21 724 3372, 726 2991 (ext. 152) Fax +62 21 7278 7252 Email: iwan@aseansec.org Ruth Morgan Program Manager Cardno Acil Pty Ltd 854 Glenferrie Road Hawthorn Vic 3122 AUSTRALIA Tel +61 3 9819 2877 Fax +61 3 9819 4216 Email: ruth.morgan@cardno.com
Program Stream (PS) Dr Iwan Gunawan Program Coordinator The ASEAN Secretariat, Second Floor
Asian Free Trade Agreements in Services:
Facilitating Free Flow of Services
in ASEAN, Lao PDR and Thailand- 15 February: Strategic Planning Workshop
• March: Workshop Draft Report
Presentation for REPSF Project,
- 25-29 February: Training Course for RPS Project, Harmonisation and Implementation
• March: Workshop Draft Report
Presentation for REPSF Project, Poverty
- February: Workshop on Revised ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan for RPS Project,
Harnessing Educational Cooperation in
the EAS for Regional Competitiveness and
Community Building, Malaysia
Reduction and Social Development in
ASEAN: Towards an ASEAN Roadmap
for the Implementation of the Millennium
Development Goals Plus, Thailand70A Jl. Sisingamangaraja Jakarta 12110 INDONESIA Tel. +62 21 724-3372, 726-2991 (ext. 150) Fax +62 21 7278-7252 Email: m.balamiento@aseansec.org Melissa Wells/Charlotte Bisley Project Manager Cardno Acil Pty Ltd 854 Glenferrie Road Hawthorn Vic 3122 AUSTRALIA Tel. +61 3 9819 2877 Fax +61 3 9819 4216 Email: melissa.wells@cardno.com
Regional Partnerships Scheme (RPS) Maria Eloida Cruz Balamiento Project Coordinator The ASEAN Secretariat, Second Floor
No activities are currently planned to be held in June 2008. The ASEAN Australia Development Cooperation Program will formally conclude at the end of the month. Event details are subject to change. For further information go to www.aadcp.org
Meeting for PS Project, Strengthening ASEAN Plant Health Capacity Project, Thailand