ASEAN Bulletin
January
2008
-
New Initiative to
Boost Science & Technology Cooperation between ASEAN and EU
-
ASEAN Tourism Forum 2008
New Initiative to Boost Science & Technology
Cooperation between ASEAN and EU
Global connectivity, on-going researches and
dialogue with international institutions in the area of science and
technology (S&T) are essential for strengthening policies and
contributing to economic sustainability. Recently, ASEAN and EU
intensified cooperation in the area of S&T by implementing a
four-year project called SEA-EU-NET: Facilitating the Bi-Regional EU-ASEAN
Science and Technology Dialogue. The project, funded by the EU’s 7th
Research Framework Programme (FP7), is in support of the
implementation of the Nuremberg Declaration on an EU-ASEAN Enhanced
Partnership signed in 2007.
The objective of the SEA-EU-NET is to increase
the quality, quantity, profile and impact of bi-regional science and
technology between the ten Member States of ASEAN and the EU. The
project is targeted at public and private research organisations.
Initial implementation activities include the
development of a database of S&T policies, scientific conferences,
experts meetings and workshops on common priority research areas of
ASEAN and EU.
Among others, the expected outcomes of the
project will be the joint scenarios and setting up of S&T-related
activities addressing the challenges of globalisation in research,
as well as the strategic policy recommendation for future research
cooperation between the two regions.
In addition, the project will build a network and
increase dialogue among research institutions contributing to the
implementation of various joint research activities that are
addressing the priorities of ASEAN in areas such as bioenergy,
climate change, food and emerging infectious diseases.
The lead implementing agencies are the ASEAN
Sub-Committee of S&T Infrastructure and Resources Development (SCIRD)
and the International Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Research and
Education (PT-DLR) of Germany. Twelve research organisations from
Europe and five research organisations from Southeast Asia will take
part in the project.
Posted on 30 January 2008
ASEAN Tourism Forum 2008
The biggest ASEAN annual tourism event in the
region, the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2008, will be held from 18-26
January 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand. Two thousand participants from
top tourism industry, policy makers, governments and suppliers are
expected to attend the event.
The theme of the ATF 2008 is “Synergy of ASEAN
Towards Dynamic Unity in Diversity”, highlighting the cooperative
regional effort to promote ASEAN as a single tourist destination yet
maintaining each country’s individual uniqueness.
The ATF programme includes the meetings of the
ASEAN National Tourism Organisations, Tourism Ministers, Tourism
Associations and ASEAN Dialogue Partners as well as the three-day
TRAVEX (a travel exchange).
The Tourism Ministers will meet from 21-22
January to discuss the role of tourism sector in complementing the
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by capitalizing on ASEAN’s potential
in tourism through the implementation of the Roadmap for Integration
of Tourism Sector and the ASEAN Tourism Agreement. Also the ASEAN Ministers
will meet their counterparts from China, Japan, the Republic of
Korea, India and Russian Federation to boost cooperation in the
tourism sector.
Meanwhile, the TRAVEX, which is the business
component of the ATF 2008, will be held from 23-25 January. The
three-day travel mart will facilitate the selling and buying of
regional services and individual tourism products.
The ATF was inaugurated in October 1981 in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia. Since then, the event has been maintained as the
prominent tourism event in the region.
For more information on ATF 2008, please visit
www.atf2008thailand.com.
Posted on 16 January 2008
