No dialogue meeting was held with the US in the year under review. ASEAN - US cooperation was, however, actively pursued through the channel of the ASEAN Washington Committee and the Philippines, ASEAN's Country Coordinator for the ASEAN - US dialogue.
A matter of considerable importance to ASEAN was the review of the US GSP scheme and the question of its renewal for another 10 years. In this regard, ASEAN submitted a Memorandum to the US calling for the renewal of the GSP scheme with suggestions for its improvement, especially as regards the expansion of product coverage. ASEAN also sent a representative to participate in the public hearings held on this matter in order to safeguard its interest.
As regards the ASEAN Watershed Project, the project document is being finalised and it is expected that the Project Grant Agreement would be signed in the near future.
The ASEAN - Asian Institute of Technology Scholarship programmes, supported by the US, is proceeding smoothly. The number of awardees currently funded under this programme is forty. To date, a total of eighty four awardees have successfully completed their courses.
Various other cooperative projects pursued under the ASEAN - US dialogue are progressing satisfactorily.
For more information, please refer to project details
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