a) Assistance to ASEAN - COFAB in Customs Training and Development was signed on 27 May 1988;

b) Anti-Pollution Technologies for Urban and Rural Areas in ASEAN Region was signed on 14 June 1988;

c) Training of Environmental Education Project for Science Teachers and Supervisors in the ASEAN Region was signed on 15 August 1988;

d) Training of ASEAN Officials on Financial Policy and institutional Management for Better Access to External Resources from Transnational Banks and Corporations was signed on 29 August 1988;

e) Joint Study of ASEAN - US Economic Relations (ASEAN - US Initiative) was signed on 12 October 1988;

f) Second ASEAN Science and Technology Week was signed on 3 January 1989;

g) Monitoring Control and Surveillance of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zones of ASEAN Countries was signed on 4 January 1989;

h) Safety and Load Line Regulations was signed on 31 January 1989; and

i) Standardization of Curriculum of National Maritime Academies and School was signed on 31 January 1989.

Much progress has been achieved, it is therefore anticipated that by the end of 1989, two more project documents would be signed namely: Technology Transfer in the Treatment Of Effluents from Palm Oil and Rubber Industries and Handicraft Innovation through Image Building and Enterpreneurship cum Product Development Strategies.

With regard to the budget allocation for the Fourth ICP, UNDP recently confirmed that US$ 2,474,323 has been added to the current approved programme allocation Of US$ 10,273,347 to arrive at the total allocation of US$ 12,747,670 for the period 1987-1991. This increased amount of US$ 2,425,291 was approved to accommodate projects already approved outside the MAC III ( The Third Meeting of Aid Coordinators) such as Joint Study of ASEAN - US Economic Relations, Second ASEAN Science and Technology Week, Handicraft Innovation through Image Building and Enterpreneurship cum Product Development Strategies.

As of 1 March 1989, the total budget approved for Fourth Cycle Projects was US$ 11.3 million out of the new budget allocation of US$ 12.7 million, leaving a balance of US$ 1.4 million. In order to accomodate the rest of the projects, an additional amount of US$ 0.95 million is required.

In addition to those approved and projects signed during the Fourth ICP, UNDP had also agreed to provide funding for two special projects, exclusively for ASEAN with funding supported from over and above the Fourth ICP Budget Allocation. The two projects are: Training Course on Development Assistance, Management and Coordination which was conducted at the ASEAN Secretariat on 1-4 November 1988 and the Seminar on the Role of Private Sector in ASEAN Economic Development held in Manila in May 1989.

With regard to the Fourth Meeting of Aid Coordinators (MAC IV) and the Mid-Term Review of the Fourth Inter-Country Programme which was held in Jakarta on 13-14 March 1989, ASEAN submitted several new project proposals for UNDP funding consideration. In this connection, the Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific, UNDP Headquarters has also included five project proposals specifically offered for ASEAN, namely:

i) The Application of Microbiological Data in Air Pollution Monitoring and Control in the ASEAN Region;

ii) Cooperation in Sectoral Industrial Sub-Sectors and Support to Relevant Regional Industry Clubs (RICs) of ASEAN-CCI;

iii) Harmonization of ASEAN Industrial and Standards;

iv) Industrial and Data Base Design ; and

v) Sectoral Development through Cooperation among Enterprises in the ASEAN countries.

The new package has been prepared to make the Inter-Country Programme one which directly Pacific in enhancing their capabilities to response to and cope with the issues and problems which they are likely to face as they move towards the 21st Century.

For more information, please refer to the project details