ASEAN-Canada
The First Meeting of the ASEAN-Canada
Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) established
under the Economic Cooperation Agreement
between ASEAN and Canada was held in Ottawa,
Canada, on 26-27 April 1983. Prior to the
establishment of this forum, ASEAN and Canada
had already met in three previous dialogue
meetings since 1977.
The JCC meeting covered the status of
existing projects and the potential for cooperation
in various areas. In the commercial field, ASEAN
requested for greater access to the Canadian
market for ASEAN products through, among
others, consideration of more extensive tariff
reductions, a review of non-tariff measures which
impeded the growth of ASEAN products, and
wider GSP coverage. Canada expressed willingness
to assist in developing increased awareness by
ASEAN of Canadian market opportunities.
Canada also stated that elements of the recent
Federal Budget, which included revisions to the
GSP which will reduce rates, expansion of the
scheme's coverage, and provision for cumulative
rules of origin, should improve market access for
ASEAN exports.
With regard to the ASEAN proposals for cooperation
in the area of joint ventures and small
and medium industries, Canada stated that it could
not direct its private sector although they are often
hospitable to government initiatives. CIDA
informed ASEAN of its Industrial Cooperation
Programme which provides considerable scopes
for private sector initiatives of the sort that governments
seldom undertake or not equipped to
handle. Canada hopes that encouraging and
supporting individual private sector efforts would
lead to identification of activities with a regional
dimension.
In the area of human resource development,
Canada agreed to accommodate a number of senior
finance officials from ASEAN to the Capital
Markets Division of the Department of Finance of
for training purposes. A program for cooperation
in vocational training for ASEAN institutions and
people is also being developed. Canada further
agreed to provide software and equipment in sports
to ASEAN.
On Energy, Canada agreed to inform ASEAN
of its experience with mini-hydro electric station
development in remote regions and information
on the loss of power through transmission over
land and sea. Canada also undertook to provide
information on the current status of Canadian
expertise in the use of solar power for air
conditioning and refrigeration and the use of wood
in power generation.
In the field of Agriculture and Forestry,
Canada indicated that further cooperation in
fisheries would be possible and desirable. The
ASEAN Forest Tree Seed Centre Project and the
ASEAN Fisheries Post-Harvest Technology Project
are being supported by Canada in this area.
Canada has agreed to finance the visit of
ASEAN journalists to Canada and Canadian
experts to ASEAN under its Speakers Programme.
The JCC also discussed possibilities for cooperation
in the area of science and technology,
transportation and communication and culture and
information.
For more information, please refer to project details
