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*for a description of each step go to Research Management Process
**Consultants wishing to express interest in this project are urged to visit the Calls for Expressions of Interest page.

Research Project 05/001

Title: ASEAN Tourism Investment Study

Brief Description: As part of the roadmap for integration of the tourism and travel-related sectors, ASEAN aims to establish an Integrated ASEAN Tourism Investment Zone within the period from 2005 to 2010, which is basically a marketing a campaign of investment opportunities in ASEAN. In line with this goal, the Task Force on Tourism Investment under the ASEAN National Tourism Organizations (ASEAN NTOs) will undertake the following tasks: (a) identification of possible areas for promoting tourism investment, (b) strengthening of the regulatory and incentive structure, and (c) development of a joint promotion strategy for the ASEAN tourism investment zone. To assist in their efforts this study will review the existing impediments, suggest potential opportunities for investment and cooperation at the regional or sub-regional levels and recommend a regional framework for the establishment of ASEAN Tourism Investment Zone.

Sponsor: Bureau for Economic Integration

Research Project 05/002

Title: Relationship between the AJCEP Agreement and Japan’s Bilateral EPAs with ASEAN countries

Brief Description: The main task of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the FTAs/EPAs completed or currently negotiated by Japan with ASEAN countries and draw implications for the ASEAN-Japan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement. It will examine the various agreements, analyze the preferences obtained as well as the concessions granted, and identify possible risks, difficulties and/or increased transactions costs for traders and administrators under the AJCEP.

Sponsor: Bureau for Economic Integration

Research Project 05/003

Title: Australia and New Zealand bilateral CEPs/FTAs with ASEAN countries and their implication on the AANZFTA

Brief Description: The main task of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the CEPs/FTAs completed or currently negotiated by Australia and New Zealand with ASEAN countries and draw implications for the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. It will examine the various agreements, analyze the preferences obtained as well as concessions granted, and identify possible risks, difficulties and/or increased transactions costs for traders and administrators under the AANZFTA.

Sponsor: Bureau for Economic Integration

Research Project 05/004

Title: Ten years of AFAS: An Assessment

Brief Description: December 2005 marks the 10th year of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services. To what extent has regional liberalization of services trade progressed in the last ten years? Considering the difficulties generally encountered in services liberalization on both the domestic and multilateral fronts, how should ASEAN evaluate its performance at the regional level? This study will evaluate the achievements of AFAS over the last decade and develop an assessment framework so that ASEAN can more systematically evaluate progress under AFAS.

Please Note: this is a relatively small study which would be suitable for individual consultants or small consulting firms, however this is a suggestion rather than a restriction on expressing interest.

Sponsor: Bureau for Economic Integration

Research Project 05/005

Title: ASEAN Tax Regimes and the Integration of the Priority Sectors

Brief Description: What are the implications of different tax systems in ASEAN on the integration of 11 priority sectors? Will increased market liberalization and competition provide opportunities for tax avoidance or lead to harmful tax competition? Are there tax-related impediments to the movement of income and capital that may frustrate the progressive market opening envisaged in goods, services, labor and investment envisaged across the region? This scoping study will survey the taxations issues related to creation of the ASEAN Economic Community and the integration of the 11 priority sectors in particular. It should explore areas of possible regional cooperation and identify specific topics requiring more in-depth study.

Please Note: this is a relatively small study which would be suitable for individual consultants or small consulting firms; however this is a suggestion rather than a restriction on expressing interest.

Sponsor: Bureau for Finance and Integration Support

Research Project 05/006

Title: Expanding Trade in Business Services in ASEAN

Brief Description: Efficient business services facilitate trade between suppliers and customers across borders by lowering search as well as transactions costs. As an input in the production of goods or other services, the price and quality of business services also affect overall product competitiveness and may inhibit or contribute to productivity growth in the rest of the economy. As an industry in itself, business services can be among the most dynamic in the economy in terms of employment and value added. Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping, R&D, data processing, marketing, advertising, engineering and design services – these are increasingly being outsourced as a strategy to lower costs and avail of specialist services in non-core but important functions. However, the market can be constrained by a lack of sufficient local capacities on the supply side and, on the demand side, a limited market size that cannot sustain a highly diversified business sector.

Given the comparative advantage of ASEAN member countries, there is a potential for expanding the market for business services to support the growth of various sectors such as manufacturing, services, agriculture and others, yielding benefits for the region as a whole.

The study will examine the opportunities for and the barriers to trade in business services in ASEAN and recommend concrete measures to expand the market in terms of both import and export potential.

Sponsor: Bureau for Economic Integration

Research Project 05/007

Desirability, Feasibility and Options for Establishing ESM within the AFAS

Brief Description: It has been argued that the lack of emergency safeguard measures (ESM) in the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) has inhibited member countries from making bold commitments in liberalizing their services sector. As a possible step to move ASEAN services liberalization forward, SEOM 2/36 held in Makati City, Philippines on 15-16 March 2005, tasked the Coordinating Committee on Services to discuss a possible emergency safeguard mechanism under AFAS.

In order to build consensus among ASEAN Member Countries (AMCs), there must be a common understanding and appreciation of the merits and risks involved in establishing ESM within AFAS. Additionally, concrete options on how such measures can be developed should also be provided so that ASEAN can determine the most appropriate and effective mechanism enabling member countries to make bolder commitments towards services liberalization.

Sponsor: Bureau for Economic Integration

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