Jakarta, 14 June 2006

Around 20 delegates from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) are set to visit the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat in Jakarta on June 14-15, 2006. Sponsored and organized by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) within the framework of the Technical Assistance project “Promotion of Regional Economic Cooperation in BIMP-EAGA”, the consultation meeting is aimed at strengthening the cooperation and coordination mechanisms between ASEAN and BIMP-EAGA Institutions.

The consultation meting will seek address specific policy, strategic and technical issues regarding ASEAN – BIMP-EAGA cooperation and coordination.  More specifically, it aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Gaining deeper understanding on the ASEAN Secretariat’s mandate, institutional set-up, organizational structure, management and operation practices;
• Consultation on how to pilot-test ASEAN agreements in BIMP-EAGA;
• Learning about ASEAN’s experience in fostering closer public-private partnership, particularly the role of the ASEAN Secretariat;
• Exchanging information and best practices on project implementation mechanism and monitoring and evaluation system;
• Familiarizing ASEAN’s project financing procedure and to explore ways to tap into its financial resources;
• High-profiling BIMP-EAGA economic integration agenda in ASEAN; and
• Accessing to ASEAN meeting and study reports and documents.

Members of the delegation are BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials, BIMP-EAGA National Secretariats, BIMP-EAGA Working Group Clusters Chairmen, BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) Chairman, BEBC Secretariat and country focal points, representative of the BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Centre, Asian Development Bank and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ). From the side of the ASEAN Secretariat, the participants are Senior Management and Desk Officers.

The move to enhance BIMP-EAGA and ASEAN cooperation originated from the BIMP-EAGA Roadmap to Development for the period 2006-2010 which calls for, among others, strengthening of extra-EAGA linkages and coordination mechanism with external partner organizations including ASEAN. The BIMP-EAGA Roadmap was approved and adopted during the 2nd BIMP-EAGA Leaders’ Summit in Kuala Lumpur last December 11, 2005.

This initiative is under the GTZ project which aims to, among others, strengthen BIMP-EAGA institutions and their links with other international groups such as ASEAN. The 4-year project has its Project Management Office at the Headquarters of the ADB in Manila to ensure close coordination of activities between GTZ and ADB in the sub-region.

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German Technical Cooperation

GTZ Liaison Office at ADB:
Rm. 6226 Southeast Asia Department,
Asian Development Bank ADB Ave., Ortigas,
Pasig City Philippines

Tel. : ++63 2 6324444 ext. 70441 / 70223
Tel.:  ++63-2-8405035 / 8938297
Telefax: ++63-2-8179095
E-Mail: Christian.Widmann@gtz.de,  jrox-gtz@mozcom.com