Australia has so far committed A$56.9 million to the ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Programme (AAECP). The largest singe increase was A$ 22.2 million made at the 7th ASEAN - Australia Forum in Penang in October 1982.
On the ASEAN Food Handling Project, a budget of A$ 9.7 million has been approved for the extension of assistance and implementation of new activities under the project from FY 1982/1983 to FY 1985/1986.
Significant progress has also been achieved in the ASEAN Protein Project. Australia has provide for the necessary allocation to extend the project for a further three years amounting to A$ 1.8 million, bringing the total commitment for the Project to A$ 7.5 million.
The Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the Joint Research Project has been signed between Australia and individual ASEAN countries. An additional allocation of A$ 2.4 million was given for the continuation of the project, bringing the total budget for the project to A$ 3.25 million.
On the ASEAN Population Programme, Australia has agreed to support the following ASEAN project proposals;
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Integration of Population and Development
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Population Mobility and Urbanization;
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Socio-Economic Consequences of the Ageing of the population.
The ASEAN Population Coordination Unit (APCU) which is assisted under the AAECP has been transferred to Jakarta from Manila in August 1982.
On Energy, a Joint Working Group on Energy Cooperation has been established under the ASEAN - Australia Cumulative Machinery (AACM). Australia has agreed to support ASEAN proposal on energy cooperation and made an initial allocation of A$ 3.2 million.
Steady progress is also being achieved in the other projects under the AAECP. The Projects are the ASEAN Development Education Project, the ASEAN Food Technology Research and Development Project for which Australia has agreed to allocate A$ 1.5 million and the extension of the ASEAN Food Wastes Materials Project with a further allocation of A$ 5 million.
The Eighth ASEAN - Australia Forum is scheduled to be held in Australia sometime in October or November of 1983.
For more information, please refer to project details
