ASEAN-NEW ZEALAND


The Second Meeting of the ASEAN- New Zealand Joint Management Committee (ANZJMC) was held from 21 to 24 November 1994 in Manila to review the progress of activities under the ASEAN- New Zealand Economic Cooperation Programme (ANZECP), namely: (1) the Inter-Institutional Linkages Programme (IILP)- (2) the Trade and Investment Promotion Programme (TIPP); (3) the Natural Gas Utilization in Transport (NGUT) Programme; and (4) the ASEAN- New Zealand Science and Technology Programme. Both ASEAN and New Zealand expressed their satisfaction with the overall progress achieved in the above activities.

The IILP is expected to be on track for its completion by December 1995. It was agreed that an evaluation study should be conducted in two to three years time to determine whether inter-institutional linkages had been sustained. The NGUT is currently in its second phase of activity and, as agreed upon at the Second JMC meeting last year, funding for the Programme will be extended by New Zealand up to 1997/1998. The NGUT Project Management Committee met from 28 to 29 March 1995 in Malaysia, to discuss among other matters, the Inclusion of Brunei Darussalam and Vietnam in the NGUT programme.

Under the TIPP, the following projects were implemented in New Zealand. FY 1994/1995.

Meanwhile, the guidelines on TIPP procedures were endorsed with a view to strengthening coordination on the implementation of projects under the TIPP programme. Specifically, the guidelines incorporated the process of requiring ASC approval before the implementation of the TIPP projects. With regard to Vietnam, it was agreed to include Vietnam as a participant in the TIPP activities. Following the decision of the 12th ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Meeting n 29-30 March 1994 Wellington, the ASEAN-New Zealand Workshop in Science and Technology was held on 13 September 1994 In Chiang Mai, Thailand. During the Workshop, New Zealand briefed ASEAN on the strengths and capabilities of New Zealand in the areas of science and technology, while ASEAN presented its priority areas for cooperation, namely: (a) biotechnology; (b) materials science and technology; (c) food science and technology; (d) sustainable environmental management; and (e) climate change/marine science.

In this connection, New Zealand presented at the 2nd JMC in Manila draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for design studies In both materials science and biotechnology. It was agreed that the project proposals on materials science and technology earlier submitted by COST for New Zealand's funding consideration would be considered in the formulation of a broadee project on materials science and technology. New Zealand also agreed to consider two other S & T project submitted for funding consideration: Sensory Evaluation : Cross Cultural Approach Amongst ASEAN" and "ASEAN-New Zealand Cooperation in Technology Transfer and Commercialization of R & D Results".

The first Informal Consultations between ASEAN nd CER (Australia and New Zealand) Officials was held on 18 March 1995 '. Jakarta. The Meeting explored mutually beneficial areas of cooperation between the two regions. These possible areas would include among others, customs matters, investment facilitation, rules of origin, industrial cooperation, human resource development and information exchange on regional integration. it was agreed that the next consultations would deliberate on appropriate mechanisms for implementing the proiritised areas for cooperation.