Indicative Activities. The Work Programme may include the following:
Indicative Activities. Activities under this component will build on the existing extensive arrangements for regional and international cooperation on Customs matters. The Work Programme may include the following:
Indicative Activities. The component will involve two broad streams of activities. One stream will be devoted to building capacity in ASEAN Parties with respect to various functions associated with efficient implementation of SPS measures to facilitate trade while pursuing science based bio-security objectives. This stream could cover co-operation with regard to WTO SPS Agreement obligations for notification (SPS National Notification Authority and National Enquiry Point), emergency response management for plant pests, SPS awareness training and pest diagnostic training and capacity building. The other stream will be aimed at providing priority to Import Health Standard (IHS) Assessments for ASEAN agricultural exports into New Zealand. This will involve adding resources to Biosecurity NZ to create a priority line for processing IHS applications from ASEAN Parties to increase the annual volume of such assessments. There will also be a focus in this stream on improving the ability of ASEAN Parties to provide necessary information to expedite IHS risk assessments. Both streams will require further design and interaction between relevant authorities in the Parties to determine the scope and timing of activities, some of which will build on existing or prospective regional and bilateral co- operation programmes. Countries involved and implementation arrangements Australia will lead the first stream, and New Zealand the second. Given the policy related nature of much of this work, and the fact that most relevant expertise to deliver co-operation activities lies within government agencies responsible for SPS measures, activities will be conducted as government-to- government co-operation, led by the respective agencies providing the expertise. All ASEAN Parties will potentially benefit from this component, with stream one focusing on ASEAN Parties with less developed capacity.
Indicative Activities. This component will assist in addressing these issues through two streams of co-operation. One stream will assist in the facilitation of movement of natural persons and increased education sector investment among the Parties by conducting pilot projects on national qualification frameworks and associated recognition tools. The other stream will provide support to strengthen agencies in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar responsible for handling trade in services issues. This will build on experience gathered in negotiating commitment schedules for the AANZFTA, and build understanding of trade in services concepts and assist agencies to document and assess effects of laws and regulations affecting trade in services. Countries involved and implementation arrangements The Philippines and Australia will direct project activities regarding education qualifications with other ASEAN Parties that wish to participate. Co-operation under the second stream may be delivered by a mix of linkage activities involving government agencies from Australia, New Zealand and ASEAN Parties, and consultancy inputs. Component 5 - Investment Objective To facilitate the flow of investment across the Parties, by deepening and broadening linkages and assisting Parties to address impediments to expanding investment in response to the opportunities created by the AANZFTA. Relevance to the AANZFTA The Parties will benefit from implementation of the AANZFTA through investment. Inter-regional investment should expand in response to reductions in cross border barriers, and domestic and foreign investment should expand to take advantage of opportunities created by the AANZFTA. Implementing provisions on investment and commitments on commercial presence in the chapter on services will make important contributions to facilitating greater cross-border investment among the Parties. To fully realise the benefits of these commitments, efforts may need to be made to make potential investors aware of new opportunities arising, and identify and address impediments to investment that the AANZFTA does not address. This may involve co- operation aimed at facilitating inward investment and analysing the impact of the regulatory environment and developing strategies for further improving the investment climate.
Indicative Activities. This component will provide a vehicle for the Parties to assess the overall climate for investment and identify areas of concern for consideration by the FTA Joint Committee and relevant domestic agencies. It will also apprise potential investors of opportunities arising from the AANZFTA and will initiate public-private policy dialogue by providing a forum for informing policy makers of issues of concern to investors, including aspects of the regulatory environment for investment. This will be initiated by combining ECWP-supported meetings with existing investment conferences and building on these by promoting a range of workshops on specific investment opportunities and issues, including AANZFTA commitments. Workshops and meetings may target ASEAN Priority Integration Sectors, and provide an opportunity for the ASEAN Lead Coordinating Countries to promote the work being done to create opportunities in the sectors they are responsible for. These interactions may be supported by the preparation of information or issues papers helping to focus attention on key issues, and by establishing website reference sources to support investors. Countries involved and implementation arrangements Modes of assistance will include support to a working group of experts of the Parties to conduct research into the environment for investment within and between the Parties and to formulate recommendations for consideration by the FTA Joint Committee and relevant domestic agencies in participating Parties. It is noted that such support will particularly benefit newer ASEAN member states. It may also involve conference sessions, workshops, seminars and training events.
Indicative Activities. No specific activities are proposed under this component. Co-operation would need to build on the existing extensive arrangements for regional and international co-operation on Customs matters.
Indicative Activities. Support will be provided for the implementation of capacity building activities listed below but not confined to: • ASEAN Secretariat staff capacity building - training events, workshops/seminars • Technical training for ASEAN Secretariat and AMCs officials on compliance of national policies and legislation with regional and international agreements in the area of the environment, (Kyoto Protocol regime) and trade • Policy related skills transfer in areas such as regional agreement and Treaty negotiations, development of institutional architecture and structures, institutional management and costing, macro-planning and cost-benefit analyses, based upon the EU experience • Policy and/or sector specific training on the development of social and cohesion, conduct of sector studies for improving competitiveness and export potential, market research on identification of potential investors • Training for the preparation of concept papers for and • Ancillary technical training in topics supported by TREATI and READI • Technical training for ASEAN Secretariat/AMCs officials in trade and investment in Services This is an indicative list, to be refined by the selected contractor in the light of actual needs identified early in the Inception Period.
