We use cookies on this website to give you a better user experience. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn more

ASEAN Connectivity Symposium on "Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity to Support ASEAN Community 2015"

Completed

This event has been completed. To read the event summary click here.

Abstract

The Symposium on "Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity to Support ASEAN Community 2015" has been successfully conducted on 8-9 November 2011 in Nusa Dua - Bali, participated by around 200 government officials, researchers and the private sector from ASEAN and Dialogue Partner countries such as European Union, United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, China and Korea. Organizers of the Symposium are the Government of Indonesia (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), ASEAN Secretariat and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).

The Symposium provides a platform that brought together diverse groups of stakeholders, and informed participants to exchange information, lessons learnt, on the progress of implementing the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, and develop networking among the participants on connectivity.The Symposium highlighted the need to step up efforts to facilitate the mobilization of resources. Therefore, it is essential to have sound, attractive and bankable infrastructure projects to attract funding from the private sector for private-public partnerships (PPPs) projects, and this means the need for appropriate infrastructure and resources to support PPPs. In particular, such as: transportation, ICT and the energy sector.

ASEAN must work out effective mechanism to achieve that and to coordinate with ASEAN Dialogue Partners and other external partners who are keen to provide funding and/or technical assistance towards the implementation of the Master Plan, and managing these resources effectively and efficiently.

One year on since its adoption, interest in ASEAN Connectivity remains high. It is thus paramount to sustain the interest and momentum that has been built up through: (i) demonstrating progress and achieving concrete results in the implementation to key stakeholders, and (ii) instituting a channel of regular communication or dialogue with key stakeholders. We also encourage effective public-private sector engagements in policy formulation and implementation.The implementation of land and maritime infrastructures will effectively contribute to connecting the mainland with the archipelagic states. We must put emphasis on connecting the dispersed and isolated parts of the region, to promote growth and connect them to the centers of economic activities. This is also inline with the global initiatives to alleviate poverty and promote economic and social welfare.

The Symposium identifies several opportunities and challenges and attempted the following recommendations:

- On physical connectivity, progress noted on many physical connectivity projects, particularly the progress of implementing priority projects and other sub-regional projects. Connecting archipelagic with mainland ASEAN remains a challenge to ensure the attainment of the goals of establishing the ASEAN Community. The Symposium also highlighted the progress of ICT projects as mean to bridge development gap. The Symposium registered progress in the development of ICT infrastructures (e.g., low cost broadband satellite), develop ICT human capacity building, capitalize ICT for value innovations, services systems, smart communities, smart environment, learning, and create a sustainable institutional framework.

- On institutional connectivity, progress registered on the development of national and regional single window system, the challenges are lack of transparency / awareness of regulatory issues, variations in cross-border standards and regulations, lack of human capacity and funding constraints for implementing projects. Among the recommendations are: enhancing policy coordination, IT and data standards), alignment of policies and practices, build up knowledge and skills of Customs and its staff, mass adoption & support program to create awareness, skills, and buy-in to use new service, and provide requisite assistance to CLMV to expedite their National Single Window system.

- On people-to-people connectivity, exchange of culture, youth and education are progressing. The Symposium acknowledged that cultural diversity is dynamic and multidimensional phenomenon, therefore, intercultural dialogue and adopting a project based learning scheme would be relevant. The role of media is also emphasized as cross cutting issue to bridge the gap.

Agenda

ASEAN Connectivity Symposium Agenda.pdf

Press Release

ASEAN Connectivity Symposium is Successfully Conducted.pdf

Symposium to Connect with ASEAN Connectivity Stakeholders.pdf