ASEAN and Australia last met on 14-15 April 1981 in Canberra. Since this last meeting, a number of significant events have taken place.
The Trade and Investment Officials of ASEAN and Australia met in March 1981 in Kualalumpur to discuss the programme for 1982/1983. Among others, Australia has agreed to fund the project up to A$1.5 million and to have the Third ASEAN Trade Fair in Perth in April 1983. An In-store Promotion Seminar would be held in conjunction with the latter.
On the ASEAN Food Handling Project, a budget of A$9.7 million has been approved for the extension of assistance and implementation of new activities under the project from FY 1982/1983 to FY 1984/1985. The budget for FY 1981/1982 amounts to A$1.7 million.
Significant progress was made in the Joint Research Project. The ASEAN and Australian Research Directors of the Project met in Singapore in October 1981 and in Penang in February 1982 to consider the proposed research programmes, budgets and the model contract to be signed by the researchers. The recommendations of the Research Directors were endorsed by the Joint Meeting of the Standing Committee held in Penang following the Meeting of the Research Directors. The Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the project have been signed between Australia and individual ASEAN member countries.
The ASEAN Population Coordination Unit (APCU) which is assisted under the ASEAN- Australia Project will transfer from Manila to Indonesia. The Population Unit of Indonesia is providing the necessary accomodation for APCU. The cost of transfer will be met under the AAECP.
On the Animal Quarantine Project, the prefeasibility study has been completed and the ASEAN and Australian study teams had met in September 1981 to consider the report. The team came to the conclusion that due to the unsurmountable problem which would exist with the establishment of the Centre, ASEAN should instead strengthen the existing national quarantine stations. Australian funding would be sought.
On Energy, the Australian Government has drawn up the administrative arrangements for the establishment of a Working Group on Energy Cooperation, under the ASEAN-Australia Consultative Meeting (AACM). The ASEAN countries are still studying the said administrative arrangements.
Steady progress is also being achieved in the other projects under the AAECP. The other projects are the ASEAN Protein Project, the ASEAN Development Education Project and the ASEAN Food Wastes Materials Project.
The Seventh ASEAN-Australia Forum is
scheduled to be held on 26-27 October 1982 in
Malaysia.
For more information, please refer to the project details
