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Research Project 04/001

Title: Promoting Efficient and Competitive Intra-ASEAN Shipping Services

Brief Description: The creation of the ASEAN Economic Community requires efficient and competitive intra-ASEAN shipping services for the low cost and timely movement of goods and other inputs. To contribute towards achieving this goal, this study will have the following outcomes: (a) a review of the current state of intra-ASEAN shipping services looking into the industry profile, performance, and key policies and practices in the region; (b) an assessment of Intra-ASEAN shipping costs critically examining the factors that make up and influence the cost structure; and (c) a regional action plan to promote efficient and competitive intra-ASEAN shipping by recommending policy and other measures to improve performance and lower cost as well as formulating a multi-stakeholder approach and cooperation framework.

Sponsor: Bureau for Finance and Integration Support

Research Project 04/002

Title: Harmonization and Integration of Customs Cargo Processing Policies and Practices in the ASEAN Region

Brief Description: The study will examine the legislation, administrative policies and operational practices relating to customs cargo processing in each of the ASEAN Member Countries and establish definitive baseline measures relating to the performance of individual Member Country administrations in processing cargo. By providing a clear overview of current regional variances and the reasons for them, it will be possible to monitor improvements in performance over time for both individual Member Countries and the region as a whole and assist efforts by Member Countries to enhance their customs environment and modernizing future operations. The study will also develop a means of assessing the relative impact of the various Member Country policies and procedures on traders and other users through a methodology of comparative assessment. It will establish General Guidelines for the gradual harmonization of customs structures and procedures in the region based on the endorsement of the ASEAN Customs Community.

Sponsor: Bureau of Economic Integration

Research Project 04/003

Title: SME access to finance: Addressing supply-side prerequisites

Brief Description: The study will examine constraints to providing credit to SMEs and will provide concrete recommendations to improve SME access to financing. Specifically, the project will have the following key outcomes: (a) a review of the facilities and infrastructure for SME financing to provide a clear understanding of the lessons learnt from SME financing operations in the ASEAN region and elsewhere, as well as the supply side shortcomings in terms of appropriate SME lending tools, access to information, credit scoring practices and capabilities; (b) an evaluation of the policy/regulatory and business environment for facilitating access to financing to clearly identify any shortcomings that may hinder measures to improve the financial sector’s provision of appropriate finance to SMEs; (c) an assessment of the institutional capabilities for rating and scoring of credit worthiness/risks and availability of credit information reference and referral systems; and (d) recommendations to address supply-side prerequisites of SME financing at the national and regional level.

Sponsor: Bureau of Economic Integration

Research Project 04/004

Title: Options for establishing regional research network to support ASEAN’s priorities

Brief Description: The study will provide options for REPSF’s long term future and for strengthening regional cooperation in policy dialogue, surveillance, and practical policy-oriented economic research in support of ASEAN’s objectives. A survey of existing models and analysis of best practices in research networking will be a useful input to the design of institutional arrangements geared at supplying the research requirements of ASEAN in a more systematic way. The study will have the following key outcomes: (a) an evaluation of the worth of networking as a means of developing sustainable regional economic policy research capacity; (b) illustrations of how such networking might assist policy development in particular policy areas; (c) an evaluation of the desirability/ efficacy of including dialogue partner or non-ASEAN neighbouring countries or the private sector in such networking, and (d) scenarios for ASEC (including post-AADCP REPSF) involvement in such efforts, either as participant or coordinator.

Sponsor: AusAID

Research Project 04/005

Title: ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Sectors – Towards Closer ASEAN Integration

Brief Description: Telecommunications and IT play a crucial role in supporting greater ASEAN integration and Vision 2020. As a critical input to the planning of the Telecommunications and IT initiatives, programmes and projects as part of the new Vientiane Action Plan (VAP), the study will have the following key outcomes: (a) an overview of the ASEAN telecommunications and IT sectors and the policy and regulatory trends; (b) a survey of the current as well as emerging opportunities and challenges for the telecommunications and IT sectors in ASEAN; (c) strategies for ASEAN Telecommunications and IT sectors to move towards closer ASEAN Integration and Vision 2020; (d) a set of indicators to monitor telecommunications and IT support for ASEAN Integration; (e) a draft regional plan of action in telecommunications and IT until 2010. A special section on trade and investment policies in the ICT markets will also be provided.

Sponsor: Bureau for Finance and Integration Support

Research Project 04/006

Title: Regulatory Models for ASEAN Telecommunications

Brief Description: ASEAN Telecommunications Regulators’ Council agreed to develop regulatory models in three areas, namely: (1) Competition Management & Interconnection; (2) Convergence and New Services; and (3) Collaboration on Capacity Building (narrowing the digital divide) and to use these non-binding models as guide for member countries in developing or further improving existing regulatory regimes where appropriate. As part of the effort to assist in the development of these regulatory models, the study will cover the following: (a) review of existing regulatory practices within and outside the region; (b) assessment of best practice in regulation under the three themes and its sub-themes; (c) assessment of gaps in the current practices in the region vis-à-vis international best practice; and (d) the necessary guidelines and recommendations for the development of regulatory models in ASEAN

Sponsor: Bureau for Finance and Integration Support

Research Project 04/007

Title: Movement of Workers in ASEAN: Healthcare & IT Sectors

Brief Description: Given that the nature, impact, obstacles, and opportunities to the movement of workers would differ depending on the unique characteristics and conditions of sectors and occupations, it will be useful to analyse priority sectors in ASEAN in the skilled and semi-skilled category to look for areas where complementarities exist in the region and identify measures to facilitate the movement of workers. Focusing on healthcare and IT sectors, the study will provide the following key outcomes: (a) analysis of the labour supply and demand conditions, both within and outside the region; (b) analysis of the impact of such labour migration including the social spillovers; (c) identification of existing and potential barriers to intra-ASEAN mobility in these key professional/skilled occupations (including factors which influence preferences for admitting migrant workers from outside ASEAN); (d) analysis of the potential impact of lowing barriers to entry for these specific occupations/sectors on labour mobility, wages and the price and quality of services.

Sponsor: Bureau for Resources Development

Research Project 04/008

Title: Strategic Directions for ASEAN Airlines in a Globalizing World

Brief Description: Given the different levels of economic development and capabilities of the airlines and in view of the various market pressures they face, analysis and advice on the issues of critical concern to the industry such as the lack of a regional competition policy framework, restrictive ownership rules, emerging business models, etc. will help ASEAN airlines come up with strategies and responses to help manage the transition towards full air services liberalization. The study is expected to provide analyses and recommendations on the following critical areas: (a) development of a code of conduct in relation to competition and consumer policy; (b) development of principles for the implementation of subsidies and state aid; (c) a review of ownership rules and investment issues; (d) The emergence of low cost carriers and their lessons for the ASEAN aviation industry; and (e) Strategies for making ASEAN carriers more competitive in a liberalized environment

Sponsor: Bureau for Finance and Integration Support

Research Project 04/009a

Title: Developing the ASEAN Minerals Sector: A Preliminary Study

This project was a scoping study to develop a research program for minerals cooperation.

Sponsor: Bureau for Finance and Integration Support.

Research Project 04/009b

Title: Enhancing ASEAN Minerals Trade and Investment

Brief Description: Under the Vientiane Action Programme, ASEAN Minerals Cooperation for the period 2005-2010 aims to strengthen cooperation in the rational utilization, sustainable management and enhanced trade and investment in the ASEAN minerals sector. This study will serve as an input to guide the formulation of regional policies and programs to support the strategic thrust for the next six years. The main outcomes of this study include (a) an analysis of ASEAN minerals production and trade performance; (b) an assessment of the potential contribution of the minerals sector to ASEAN economic development; (c) a review of the investment regimes that govern the region’s minerals sector; (d) recommendations on measures to maximise the attractiveness of the minerals sector investment climate in ASEAN; and (e) recommendations to maximise the opportunities for regional cooperation to increase the investment potential in the region’s mineral sector.

Sponsor: Bureau for Finance and Integration Support

Research Project 04/010

Title: AIA-Plus: Building on Free Trade Agreements

Brief Description: ASEAN is about to embark on FTA negotiations with CER, India, Japan and ROK in 2005, in addition to its present FTA negotiations with China. The five fold increase in these bilateral engagements requires a clear strategy to guide it through the quagmire of negotiations to ensure ASEAN interest are not jeopardised, and that concluding agreements are mutually beneficial to all parties concerned. This study is intended to provide inputs for AIA-plus strategy formulation and assist ASEAN in investment negotiations with dialogue partners.

Sponsor: Bureau for Economic Integration

Research Project 04/011

Title: Investigation of Measures Affecting the Integration of ASEAN’s Priority Sectors: Phase One

Brief Description: At the 10th ASEAN Summit, the Leaders signed the Framework Agreement for the Integration of Priority Sectors, which outlines the scope, modalities, and timelines to accelerate the integration of 11 sectors. The Framework Agreement follows the ASEAN Concord II (also known as Bali Concord II) establishing the ASEAN Economic Community as a single market and production base. The adoption of an objective of a single market is a large step in the evolution of ASEAN. The decision to create a single market for any set of markets will require policies and measures beyond those that currently exist in ASEAN. To underpin future discussions and negotiations, border and beyond-the-border measures which would hinder integration should be examined. Such an investigation will provide guidance to the choice of measures and modalities As a first step towards a more comprehensive study, this project will provide the overall conceptual framework and develop methodologies for the investigation of measures affecting the integration of ASEAN’s priority sectors.

Sponsor: Bureau for Economic Integration

2006 Research Program - click here for research project information

2005 Research Program - click here for research project information

2003 Research Program - click here for research project information

2002 Research Program - click here for research project information

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REPSF II ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program The ASEAN Secretariat Jl. Sisingamangaraja No. 70A Jakarta 12110 Indonesia Tel. (62-21) 724-3372, 726-2991 Fax (62-21) 722-9028 Email Association of Southeast Asian Nations http://www.aseansec.org/

The Managing Contractor for the REPSF II is GRM International