ASEAN-CANADA
279. The Joint Planning and Monitoring Committee (JPMC) established a mechanism to undertake joint programming and review of development cooperation projects. The first JPMC Meeting was held in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia from 18-20 October 1995.
280. The first Meeting of the JPMC endorsed the JPMC's Terms of Reference and noted the progress of 13 projects, five of which come under the ASEAN-Canada Regional Training Programme. The Meeting also noted the status of three other related CIDA projects in Southeast Asia of interest to ASEAN. Provisions for the sustainability of the following three projects were discussed:
(a) ASEAN Institute of Forest Management;
(b) ASEAN Forest Tree Seed Centre; and
(c) ASEAN-Canada Fisheries Post Harvest Project.
The Fisheries Post Harvest Project received an additional amount of C$185,000 to enable the extension of the tenure of the Programme Manager till 1997. Another C$80,000 was approved to cover the cost of a radio script-writer and a media technician for the Regional Centre for Information Preparation and Dissemination in Kuala Lumpur.
281. Four projects were completed during the year under review. Among these was the ASEAN-Canada Solar Energy in Drying Processes Phase II (1991-1996). The project provided technical assistance, equipment and management services related to information on effective solar drying technologies primarily for agricultural produce in the ASEAN region. A series of workshops were held in the ASEAN region for these purposes. Pilot projects were run in each of the participating ASEAN countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, with a view to commercialising efficient and economic solar energy systems. The project was successfully completed in March 1996.
282. The 10th Meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) held in Miri, sarawak, from 27-28 May 1996, saw an exchange of views on international and regional economic issues. Among these were the Lyon Summit, APEC, NAFTA, ASEAN and Economic Cooperation in ASEAN. Also discussed were ways and means to enhance trade, investment, industrial and technological cooperation between Canada and ASEAN. In relation to this, the meeting proposed a draft Canada-ASEAN Trade and Investment Action Plan. Among other things, the draft includes sector-specific trade and investment missions to Canada, an outreach and awareness programme, a public relations campaign, a special programme for small amd medium enterprises. Also proposed was a JCC Sub-committee Meeting on Trade and Investment in the fall of 1996 in Vancouver, Canada to disucss the joint action plan in greater detail. The JCC agreed that Canada would host the second JPMC at the end of 1996.
283. The Canada-ASEAN Economic Cooperation Agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to Cooperative Projects on Marine Science II (CPMSII) and the Regional Training Programme (RTP) will be amended to enable Vietnam to participate in the development cooperation programmes. In connection with this, on CPMS II, Canada agreed to a further disbursement of C$2.5 million from the allocated funds. The project duration was also extended to January 1999.