ASEAN - CANADA

ASEAN and Canada focused greater attention on their respective development policies, priorities and objectives at the Third Meeting of the ASEAN - Canada Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), held in Ottawa in October 1985. They also exchanged views on the further strengthening of ASEAN - Canada relations by improving the methodology and setting new directions.

On commercial cooperation, ASEAN reiterated its request to Canada for greater market, access for several of its products through the implementation of appropriate measures and concessions.

On trade promotion activities, Canada agreed to arrange a seminar in each ASEAN country on "Export Opportunities in Canada" and to provide the services of consultants to address specific problem areas with respect to food packaging, including design and graphics, in each ASEAN country.

Canada also agreed to organise a Business Forum in Vancouver during the Expo'86 which will bring senior private sector decision makers from ASEAN and Canada together.

On investment and industrial cooperation, ASEAN urged the Canadian Government to provide the initial impetus to increase investment in ASEAN through various measures like technical assurance, facilitating the promotion of Canadian investment to the region, and considering the possibilities of relocating suitable Canadian industries in ASEAN.

Canada agreed to encourage its private sector to study ASEAN's proposals. The Business Forum in Vancouver, it was appreciated, would be a good avenue for ASEAN and Canadian businessmen to explore the possibilities.

Progress was made in ASEAN - Canada development cooperation in the fields of agriculture, fishery and forestry. These are the on-going projects such as the ASEAN Crop Post Harvest Programme, the ASEAN Fisheries Post Harvest Technology Project, and the ASEAN - Canada Forest Tree Seed Centre. On new project proposals, ASEAN and Canada agreed to expedite the finalization of several of them for early implementation. These include the proposals for the ASEAN Secretariat to develop an information collection system on HRD, the ASEAN Institute of Forest Management and the Energy Seminars.