ASEAN continued to maintain close cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) during the year under review. Through close consultations and collaborations between ASEAN and the UNDP Representative Office in Jakarta in particular, marked progress had been achieved in the process of finalizing Project documents and implementing projects under the ASEAN - UNDP Cooperation Programme.

Since the launching of the UNDP Fourth Cycle Inter-Country Programme (1987 - 1991), seven projects documents had been signed, namely:

a) Seminar on Mobilization of ASEAN Domestic Resources was signed on 28 January 1987;

b) Technical Cooperation in Pharmaceuticals among ASEAN Countries Phase III was signed on 9 February 1987;

c) ASEAN Programme of Industrial Relations and Labour Studies (APIRLAS/ALINE) was signed on 5 May 1987;

d) Regional Small Scale Coastal Fisheries Development was signed on 4 June 1987;

e) ASEAN Financial and Banking System: Structure and Prospects (Phase 11) was signed on 10 June 1987;

f) Cellular Radio Telephone Systems Applications was signed on 2 October 1987; and

g) ASEAN Tourism Research, Development and Marketing Phase I - Development of ASEAN Tourism Marketing Strategy was signed on 17 November 1987.

As of 30 April 1988, the total approved commitment for the Fourth Cycle was US$7.27 million out of a total UNDP allocation of US$ 9.8 million, leaving a balance of US$ 2.5 million for the Fourth Cycle.

The UNDP had agreed to provide funding for two special projects: the Joint ASEAN -US Study on ASEAN - US Economic Relations and the Assistance to COTT on Multilateral Trade Negotiations. UNDP would also organise a Training Course on Development Assistance, Management and Coordination and a Seminar/Workshop on the Role of Private Sector in ASEAN Economic Development. The funding for the 4 projects would be over and above the Fourth Cycle budget allocation.

By the end of the year under review, the following project documents are being finalized:

a) Assistance to ASEAN Committee on
Finance and Banking in Customs Training and Development;

b) Training Programme in Environmental Education for Science and Teachers and Supervisor in the ASEAN Region; and

c) Anti-Pollution Technologies for Urban and Rural Areas in ASEAN Region.

For more information, please refer to the project details