MFA Press Statement: Singapore's Enhanced Contribution To The Initiative For Asean Integration

Singapore has pledged a further contribution of S$30 million in technical assistance programmes to the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) for another three years, starting from 2009 to 2011. The commitment was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during the 13th ASEAN Summit in November 2007.

The IAI was launched by Singapore's then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Fourth ASEAN Informal Summit in 2000 with the objective of narrowing the development gap in ASEAN, especially with the newer members of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV). Singapore has earlier committed S$88.44 million worth of technical assistance package in two separate tranches to the IAI, stretching from 2001 to 2008. Since the launch of the IAI in 2001, more than 18,000 participants from CLMV have attended various courses and workshops or took part in study visits organized by the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP).

The IAI has become the focus of ASEAN integration. Singapore plans to use the additional contributions to further enhance the human resource capacity of CLMV, which would in turn promote integration and solidarity among ASEAN members. Through these efforts, Singapore hopes to support the larger regional goal of achieving an ASEAN Community in 2015. (Please see Annex A for information on the IAI and SCP.)

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
20 NOVEMBER 2007

Annex A
About the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI)

The Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) was launched by former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Fourth ASEAN Informal Summit in 2000, with the objective of narrowing the development gap in ASEAN by assisting the newer members in the grouping, namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV). Under the IAI, training resources within ASEAN and from ASEAN's Dialogue Partners and international development partners have been mobilised to assist CLMV.

To kick-start the Initiative, Singapore pledged S$59.54 million for projects that were carried out over the first five years from 2001 to 2005. At the Tenth ASEAN Summit in 2004, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pledged a further commitment of S$28.9 million for the three-year period from 2006 to 2008. Since the launch of the IAI, more than 18,000 officials from CLMV have been trained in diverse fields such as Public Administration, Trade and Tourism Promotion, Civil Aviation, Healthcare, Environmental Management, Urban Planning and English Language.

Singapore's focus for the IAI has been on human resource capacity development. To show tangible support for the IAI, Singapore established a training centre each in Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Yangon. Through these four centres, Singapore has been able to customize specific programmes that are aligned to the development needs of CLMV. It also enables Singapore to train a larger number of participants. To date, more than 12,000 officials have been trained at the four centres. In addition to courses and workshops, 195 CLMV students have been awarded the Singapore Scholarships to pursue undergraduate studies in Singapore. Graduates from the programme are expected to return to and contribute to the development of their countries, in support of the objective for ASEAN integration.

Besides bilateral programmes, Singapore has worked with various developed countries and international organizations to conduct joint training programmes under the IAI. This joint training concept was conceived as a means to harness the joint expertise and resources of Singapore and our partners, so as to widen the scope of the assistance provided. It also helps to deepen our partners' engagement in ASEAN's development and integration process.

About the Singapore Cooperation Programme

Singapore's technical assistance programme is based on the training and development of human resource in competencies useful to developing countries. As a country whose only resource is its people, Singapore believes that human resource development is vital for economic and social progress. In her early years of independence Singapore itself had benefited from training provided by other countries and international organisations. Through the SCP, Singapore now shares its development experiences with other developing countries.

The SCP was formally established in 1992 to bring together under one framework the various technical assistance programmes offered by Singapore. Over the years, the range and number of training programmes have been increased to meet the training needs of developing countries. To date, Singapore has sponsored training courses and study visits for over 50,000 officials and individuals from 168 developing countries in the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean.

In 2007, the SCP celebrates its 15th anniversary and also the milestone of receiving its 50,000th participant. More details are available on the Singapore Cooperation Website at www.scp.gov.sg.

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MEDIA FACTSHEET
SINGAPORE'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ASEAN DEVELOPMENT FUND AND THE ASEAN SECRETARIAT ANNOUNCED AT THE 13TH ASEAN SUMMIT

The Singapore Government today announced a voluntary contribution of USD 500,000 (approx. SGD 725,000) to the ASEAN Development Fund and a contribution of USD 240,500 (approx. SGD 350,000) to upgrade the ASEAN Secretariat's Information Technology and Archival and Depository facilities.

ASEAN Development Fund (ADF)

What is the ADF?

• The ADF was set up in 2004 to provide financial resources to support the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme.

• The ADF is meant to be used to: i) leverage funding of regional cooperation programmes and projects from Dialogue Partners and other external donors, as a source of 'counterpart funding'; ii) provide seed funding for initial activities of large-scale projects, requiring major financial support from a Dialogue Partner or donor institution; iii) provide full funding support to small and short-term projects of a confidential or strategic nature.

What is Singapore doing to support the ADF?

• Singapore believes that it is is important to assist in ASEAN's integration efforts and its efforts to narrow the development gap.

• Singapore has thus pledged a voluntary contribution of USD 500,000 (approx. SGD 725,000). This is in addition to a mandatory contribution of USD 100,000. In total, Singapore will be contributing USD 600,000 to the ADF.

ASEAN Secretariat

What does the ASEAN Secretariat do?

• The ASEAN Secretariat plays a crucial coordinating role within ASEAN.

• With the signing of the ASEAN Charter and consequent remaking of ASEAN into a more rules-based grouping, the Secretariat will have an increased role in ensuring compliance with ASEAN's agreements. The Secretariat will also have the additional responsibility of monitoring the implementation of the Charter.

• The scope of ASEAN cooperation has also expanded significantly over the past 40 years. There are now more than 700 ASEAN meetings annually, covering many areas of cooperation such as transport, health and the environment, all of which are supported by the Secretariat.

• Singapore and other member countries have provided assistance to improve the Secretariat's infrastructure in the past. To enable the Secretariat to keep pace with ASEAN's ever-increasing activity, we have to upgrade its facilities.

What is Singapore doing for the Secretariat?

• Singapore is making a contribution of USD 240,500 (approx, SGD 350,000) to the Secretariat to upgrade its Information Technology and Archival & Depository systems. The upgrading work is already ongoing, and it is hoped that the systems will be fully in place by early 2008.

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