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*for a description of each step go to Research Management Process

Research Project 02/001

Title: Developing Indicators of ASEAN Integration - A Preliminary Survey for a Roadmap

Brief Description:: Leaders agreed at the 7th ASEAN Summit (November 2001) to develop a Roadmap for Integration of ASEAN (RIA). As envisaged, the RIA shall set milestones and identify specific steps and timetables in fulfilment of the ASEAN Vision 2020. The study will identify and analyze key economic integration indicators consistent with the ASEAN Vision 2020 and propose a methodology for its regular investigation and monitoring. The output will be used to guide ASEAN bodies in monitoring RIA's targets and milestones. It will also be useful in the reformulation and/or subsequent updating of the Roadmap.

Sponsor:Bureau of Economic Cooperation, ASEC

Research Project 02/002

Title: Options for Managing the Revenue Losses and Other Adjustment Costs of CLMV Participation in AFTA

Brief Description: The study will first discuss the revenue implications of trade liberalization under AFTA for each of the CLMV countries and recommend alternative forms of revenue measures, critically examining the trade-offs involved in employing each. In addition to analyzing the revenue impact, the study will also set out in detail the domestic implications of a more liberal trade environment in terms of the anticipated adjustment costs and will assess the readiness of CLMV economies to deal with possible adverse effects. Specific companion policies and necessary measures at the national and industry level that would have to be instituted to mitigate the short run costs associated with full participation in AFTA will also be recommended.

Sponsor: Initiative for ASEAN Integration Unit, ASEC

Research Project 02/003

Title: Reforming Trade in Services Negotiations under AFAS

Brief Description: The study will review alternative approaches to trade in services negotiations conducted in other trade blocs and provide a critical assessment of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS), its implementing rules, procedures, and TOR of key actors in the negotiation process. It will recommend improvements to the current structure and approach to negotiations of services liberalization and identify the institutional and resource requirements at the national and regional level that are needed to implement the recommendations.

Sponsor: Bureau of Economic Cooperation, ASEC

Research Project 02/004

Title: Liberalizing and Facilitating the Movement of Individual Service Providers under AFAS: Implications for Labour and Immigration Policies and Procedures in ASEAN

Brief Description: The study will discuss the impact on the labour market of liberalizing trade in services via the temporary movement of individual service providers. Impediments in terms of policy and/or regulatory and administrative barriers will be examined, and measures at both the national and regional level to anticipate any adverse repercussions, as well as to facilitate further liberalization, will be identified.

Sponsor: Social Development Unit, Bureau of Functional Cooperation, ASEC

Research Project 02/005

Title: A Proposed ASEAN Policy Blueprint for SME Development 2004-2014

Brief Description: The policy measures charted in the study will aim, among other things, (i) to map out the opportunities and challenges for SME sector development and integration within ASEAN, (ii) to contribute to the gradual elimination or alleviation of various (domestic) constraints on SMEs; (iii) to facilitate the timely identification and effective management, by both SMEs and SME-support agencies, of emerging opportunities and challenges facing SMEs; (iv) to promote the collaborative integration and networking among SMEs of the old and new ASEAN member countries, as well as between ASEAN SMEs and those enterprises within and outside the region; and (v) to suggest parameters, indicators and benchmarks for the systematic and objective monitoring and evaluation of the impacts and achievements of SME support policy in the short and long term.

Sponsor: Bureau of Economic Cooperation, ASEC

Research Project 02/006

Title: Liberalization of Financial Services in the ASEAN Region

Brief Description:The study will provide an assessment of the current status of financial services liberalization in the ten ASEAN countries, including a cross-country analysis of the benefits and effects of liberalizing the financial sector as well as the implications of liberalization on the growth of the real sectors in ASEAN Member Countries. Measures and/or technical assistance that may be required to mitigate the possible adverse impacts of greater competition arising from further liberalization of sub-sectors will also be recommended. The study will be a useful input to the negotiations process in opening up the financial services sector in ASEAN. Member countries will be guided in making offers and in making necessary adjustments to their domestic policies. The regional integration of the overall financial sector may be facilitated with the adoption of the recommended measures.

Sponsor: Bureau of Finance and Surveillance, ASEC

Research Project 02/007

Title: Liberalizing Capital Movements in the ASEAN Region

Brief Description: Structuring an orderly capital account liberalization is an important activity under the ASEAN Finance Process, to strengthen macroeconomic and financial stability. The study will provide guidance for ASEAN member countries in properly sequencing their capital account opening, thus deriving the maximum benefits and reducing the risks that the opening up of the capital account entails. It will review and assess past and ongoing experiences and approaches on capital account liberalization in both developed and developing countries, with an aim towards drawing relevant lessons that could be applied to accelerate the pace of liberalization in ASEAN. The status of capital account liberalization in each ASEAN country, including current restrictions and controls on both capital inflows and outflows, monitoring system, supervisory regime and relevant legal infrastructure will also be examined.

Sponsor: Bureau of Finance and Surveillance, ASEC

Research Project 02/008

Title: Preparing ASEAN for Open Sky

Brief Description: The restrictive air transport policy regime is blamed for creating inefficiencies in the regional transport chain, hampering ASEAN’s trade and investment competitiveness and the movement of passengers and tourism development in ASEAN. The study will help Member Countries better understand the concept of Open Sky, its challenges and opportunities as well as the policy options. Member Countries will be guided by a set of clear and well defined domestic and regional air services liberalization policy frameworks. This would help to minimize the potential undesirable effects of market opening and in turn enhance the prospect of an earlier realization of an Open Sky in ASEAN. Specifically, the project will have the following outcomes: (a) a review and assessment of the existing air services agreements of Member Countries and other working models such as those of the EU, Australia-New Zealand, or other bilateral as well as multilateral agreements developed in APEC, South America and African countries; (b) a clear liberalization framework towards Open Sky in ASEAN; and (c) a detailed discussion on the policy implications and recommendations.

Sponsor: Bureau of Economic Cooperation, ASEC

Research Project 02/009

Title: Liberalization and Harmonization of ASEAN Telecommunications

Brief Description: In pursuit of the development of ASEAN telecommunications as a catalyst to foster closer regional economic integration and competitiveness, this study aims to be a useful input to accelerating the liberalization of telecommunications in ASEAN and in strengthening regional cooperation in telecommunication policy and regulation. Specifically, the study will have the following key outcomes: (a) an assessment of the current status of telecom services liberalization in the ten ASEAN countries, (b) a review of existing barriers to intra-ASEAN trade in telecommunications services and policy options to eliminate such impediments, (c) a comparative analysis of regulatory regimes to examine the scope for harmonization, covering both economic/financial and technical aspects, and (d) a framework for liberalization and a regional strategy for the harmonization of the ASEAN telecommunications sector.

Sponsor: Bureau of Economic Cooperation, ASEC

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