Promoting the newer ASEAN member states

Promoting the newer ASEAN member states

Pola Singh, Head, Initiatives for ASEAN Integration Unit,
Jakarta

As integration with the world economy increases, the
Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) finds itself facing
important opportunities and challenges including the need to
better integrate the new members into the regional and global
economy. ASEAN leaders have agreed to develop a Roadmap for
Integration of ASEAN (RIA) in order to put the objective of
regional integration at the center of ASEAN's cooperation and
provide a framework for more coherent implementation of the
regional integration program.

A stable, prosperous and highly competitive ASEAN economic
region is envisioned, in which there is a free flow of goods,
services and investments, a freer flow of capital, equitable
economic development and reduced poverty and socio-economic
disparities.

Among ASEAN's greatest challenges in the new millennium is the
one it faces within: The integration of market diversity and the
transitional economies of its new member countries -- Cambodia,
Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (collectively known as CLMV countries).
In November 2000, the ASEAN Leaders agreed to launch an
'Initiative for ASEAN Integration' (IAI) program, which gives
direction to and sharpens the focus of collective efforts in
ASEAN to narrow the development gap between ASEAN's older and
newer members.

With the rapidly changing socio-economic global landscape,
there is a greater sense of urgency and commitment among ASEAN
countries to push ahead with fresh approaches to ensure that the
newer members -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV
countries) -- are not left behind. Widening of the development
gap between the older ASEAN-6 members and the CLMV countries
could undermine regional solidarity.

This six-year IAI work plan (July 2002 -- June 2008) has been
developed to assist these countries which are lagging behind
catch up with the rest by ensuring that the economic wheels of
their economies move at an accelerated pace. Furthermore, this
Work Plan, if implemented successfully, will instill confidence
in these countries to face the economic challenges ahead such as
globalization and liberalization.

The programs, activities and projects under the work plan are
directed at strengthening the CLMV countries' capacity,
capability and resolve in meeting the challenges ahead such as
reducing poverty, preparing them to face global competition and
also assisting them to gain some competitive edge in world
markets.

ASEAN's experience in the last three decades has shown that
measures to reduce inequality in income and wealth distribution
can contribute to faster economic growth. The programs,
activities and projects in the work plan are intended not only to
enhance the productive capacity of the peoples in the CLMV
countries but also make their economies more competitive in
facing the new realities in the global economy. In all of these
efforts, cooperation from all quarters is needed.

The launching of the IAI plan is the response of ASEAN in
assisting its less fortunate members bridge the development gap
among the older and newer members. Concerned on the well being of
their fellow members, ASEAN-6 countries (Indonesia, Malaysia,
Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Brunei) have committed
to make significant contributions to uplift the standards of
living of the CLMV countries.

ASEAN-6 will assist the new members by capitalizing on their
broad spectrum of strengths, resources and abilities.
Contribution of member countries could take various forms
including training, provision of technical experts and supply of
equipment, just to name a few. ASEAN-6 has taken the lead to
ensure that the new members join in the mainstream of development
by making numerous pledges and commitments to assist in the
realization of the work plan.

Indonesia for instance has stepped forward and has made
several country offers in the energy and transport fields as its
contribution to the integration efforts. Similarly, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand have also responded in
beefing up the capacity building efforts of the newer members.
These efforts will undoubtedly lead to a speedier integration of
ASEAN.

The CLMV will focus on the priority areas of infrastructure
development, human resource development, information and
communication technology and promoting regional economic
integration in the countries.

The current inherent weak human resource capabilities in the
CLMV countries together with weak or absent policy, institutional
and legal frameworks make it difficult for these countries to
raise their productive capacities; it also constraints the
effective absorptive capacity of making optimum use of foreign
aid. The work plan will strengthen the productive capacities of
the CLMV countries with an improved enabling environment and
strengthened support capacities

Information and communications technology offers the CLMV
countries a vital opportunity and means to leapfrog the
historical stages of development. In line with the e-ASEAN
initiative, the CLMV countries will have in place the policy,
institutional, legal and regulatory frameworks.

The information age poses the danger that those who are
already well advanced will go faster and even further ahead. This
means that ASEAN has to deliberately intensify efforts to assist
the CLMV countries in ICT so that the ICT gap is not widened
further. ASEAN wants to ensure that as it strives to catch up
with the more advanced economies, the gap narrows between those
the older members and the newer members who will be in danger of
being left out of the information age.

All of these efforts and the realization of the benefits will
take time. Hence ASEAN has given the CLMV countries a six- year
timeframe to nurture, evolve and develop clean and efficient
administrative systems managed by experienced, competent and
proactive officials who are quick to respond to changes.