Outline

Agriculture is a very important sector for the ASEAN region. Not surprisingly, one of the major strategic approaches adopted by the AMSs for the sector under the AEC Blueprint is "enhance intra-and extra-ASEAN trade and long term competitiveness of ASEAN's food, agriculture and forestry products/commodities." The action points indicated in the AEC Blueprint are related mainly to production practices, SPS and certification in addition to the monitoring of the CEPT-AFTA scheme for agriculture (and forestry) products.

The MTR Report brings out however that nontariff measures (NTMs) are increasing in policy concern in view of the significant reduction and elimination of agriculture products. Moreover, the Report brings out the importance of trade facilitation as well as infrastructure and logistics to have a more integrated, and hence more competitive, ASEAN, agriculture included.

This Study attempts to contribute to the drive of ASEAN towards an integrated economic region as expressed in the goal of a single production base. Specifically, the project examines critical "choke points" in the supply chain of agricultural products within AMSs and the whole ASEAN region. The choke points tend to be policy and institutional constraints. The main objective of the exercise is help improve the movement of goods from farm to firms and consumers domestically and regionally; thereby moving towards a single production base in agricultural products in the ASEAN region.

Project Leader and Coordinator

Dr. Ponciano S. Intal, Jr., ERIA

Consultant

Dr. Misa Okabe

Dr. Gloria O. Pasadilla

Dr. Roehlano Briones

Project Member

Mr. Chiek Chansamphors, CICP (Cambodia)

Dr. Yose Rizal Damuri and Dr. Raymond Atje, CSIS (Indonesia)

Dr. Leeber Leebouapao, Dr. Sathabandith Insixiengmay, Mr. Vanthana Nolintha, and Ms. Amphaphone Sayaxen, NERI (Lao PDR)

Dr. Larry Wong, ISIS (Malaysia)

Dr. Sandar Oo and Dr. Cho Cho Thein, YIE (Myanmar)

Dr. Roehlano Briones and Dr. Danilo Israel, PIDS (Philippines)