|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
February 25, 2008 The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) today announced a development assistance program to help the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) achieve its goal of establishing a peaceful, prosperous and stable community of nations – the ASEAN Community – by 2015. The program, called ADVANCE, will run for eight years to match ASEAN’s time frame for achieving the ASEAN Community. ADVANCE was funded at $7 million in 2007 and will continue to be funded on an annual basis. Scot Marciel, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, and Olivier Carduner, USAID’s Regional Mission Director, made the announcement today with Surin Pitsuwan, the new Secretary-General of ASEAN. ADVANCE is the cornerstone of USAID’s regional assistance program to ASEAN, said Carduner of USAID. “ADVANCE is designed to strengthen the ASEAN Secretariat as an institution, provide assistance to select ASEAN sub-regions and member nations, and facilitate greater economic integration and improved governance within the region,” Carduner noted. Deputy Assistant Secretary Marciel underlined the U.S. Government’s support of ASEAN. “The Joint Vision Statement of the ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced Partnership, announced by President George W. Bush and ASEAN leaders in 2005, demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. and our friends and allies in Southeast Asia to work together,” Marciel said. “We have a strong record of cooperation with ASEAN, and ADVANCE will deepen our engagement in the region.” ADVANCE, which stands for ASEAN Development Vision to Advance National Cooperation and Economic Integration, is meant to realize the developmental goals established under the ASEAN-US Enhanced Partnership Plan of Action signed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in July 2006. It will compliment the ASEAN-US Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) signed by U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab the following year. “We welcome ADVANCE, which reflects the strong commitment of the US to vibrant ASEAN-US dialogue,” Surin said. USAID recently launched three regional programs under ADVANCE: • The ASEAN-US Technical Assistance and Training Facility to deliver policy studies, assessments, training, technical assistance, and other support in 15 areas. • The ASEAN Single Window Program to support the development and launch of a standardized data-submission and customs-clearance system that will speed the processing of goods shipped to and from ASEAN ports. • The Regional Supply Chain/Competitiveness Program to promote market integration for the development of ASEAN as a unified, highly competitive region to attract more foreign and domestic investment. For more information about the ADVANCE program, please contact Mr. Hal Lipper at (66-8) 9204-8725 or email hlipper@usaid.gov.
|
|
Home |
Information
Resource Center | IRC
Reference
Form |
Visa
Information | American
Citizen Services Please contact our Webmaster
with questions and comments. |
