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Information on economic cooperation and integration in Asia From the GIZ programme Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration in Asia

Issue No. 1 March 2013

Editorial Dear readers, we are delighted to welcome you to the first issue of Connect Asia! This newsletter aims to provide you with quick and regular information on programme activities and events of the Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration in Asia (RCI) Programme. I would like to invite you to find out more about our work and ongoing projects through regular updates. Additionally we will present insights on recent publications, activities and news related to regionalisation in Asia. We put particular emphasis on trade, FDI, maritime cooperation and cross-border economic cooperation. The first issue of Connect Asia highlights two activities within the framework of South-South Cooperation: RCI's recent activities in the focus area of trade facilitation with reports on two study tours to Senegal and Central Asia. A summary of our expert hearing in Bangkok provides insight into the programme's acitivities in the area of exchange of knowledge and best practices among regional initiatives in Asia. We hope you enjoy reading this newsletter and we appreciate any feedback and comments. With the best wishes for the GIZ RCI Programme, Magnus C. M. Brod Editor

Dates and Events 1112 March Future of the World Trading System: Asian Perspectives Conference Geneva, Switzerland Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) World Trade Organisation (WTO) www.adbi.org/... 2426 April Trade Facilitation Implementation Guide (TFIG) Workshop Kigali, Rwanda United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) www.unece.org/...

More on GIZ RCI Programme Regional economic cooperation and integration play an increasingly important role in Asias economic landscape. They help countries to overcome the limitations of domestic markets and foster inclusive development, both by boosting economic growth and by providing the resources for propoor policies. The GIZ RCI Programme supports regional stakeholders with the aim to strengthen selected core processes of regional economic cooperation and integration and to contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic development in the region.

Contents Study Tour to Senegalese Single Electronic Window (SEW) Unit Expert Hearing: Cross-Border Cooperation and Trade Facilitation in Asia Mongolian Study tour to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan Recent Trends in Asian Regionalism Stay up to date with GIZ RCI If you would like to continue receiving regular updates on our programme activities and further insights on regionalisation processes in Asia, please refer to the GIZ Newsletter mainpage and

Programme News
Trade Facilitation

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Study tour to Senegalese Single Electronic Window Unit

During 1 to 9 December 2012, the RCI Programme organised a tour to study the Senegalese approach to Single Electronic Window (SEW) to enhance practical knowledge in terms of implementation, realisation, payment system, and challenges for Mongolian trade facilitation stakeholders. The Senegalese SEW system was piloted in 1986 and has evolved into a paperless system in 2012. Due to the steady success, the system has served as example for implementation processes in Central Asia since 2006. The recent study tour included visits to GAINDE 2000 the company dealing with SEW consultancy, management, and employment , the Senegalese Customs Office and its Port Facilitation Centre. Most participants where delegated from operational level members of Mongolias SEW Working Group. Furthermore, in line with the RCI approach towards transfer of best practices within Asia and beyond, the organisers reached out to partners from Central Asia. Accompanied by staff from the GIZ RCI partner programme Regional Economic Cooperation in Central Asia office in Uzbekistan, delegates from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan joined the tour. An article about the study tour has been published in the Senegalese daily newspaper Le Soleil. You can access the article here: www.lesoleil.sn/... (in French) Contact : Marina.Rudyak@giz.de top Regional Integration

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Expert Hearing on Cross-Border Cooperation and Trade Facilitation in Asia

From 15 to 16 November GIZ RCI Programme convened an international expert hearing on Cross-border Cooperation and Trade Facilitation in Asia in Bangkok, Thailand. It brought together over 30 experts from member countries of the subregional initiatives Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation (PBG), Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC), Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI), and Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Cooperation (GMS). The event provided an initial platform for mutual learning and transfer of professional experience. Participants exchanged practical solutions to trade barriers such as Single Window or One-Stop-Shop, as well as the flexible issuance of visa for citizens in border regions. Experts from Europe reported on experiences of the European integration process and the establishment of a common market, while GIZ illustrated case studies of regional cooperation initiatives world-wide. For the first time representatives from four different sub-regional initiatives in Asia sat down together to discuss their approaches to cross-border cooperation and trade facilitation. Not only did the expert hearing lead to a vivid exchange of existing knowledge, it also laid the foundation for a future network for peer

learning expanding from Mongolia over Kazakhstan to Viet Nam and Cambodia. A comprehensive documentation of the expert hearing is available which contains the event's main findings and inputs; please contact Lisa.Brueckner@giz.de top Trade Facilitation

Exchanging practical solutions to trade barriers

From 25 September to 10 October, the RCI Mongolia office conducted a study tour / internship programme for Mongolian trade facilitation stakeholders. Assisted by the GIZ Programme on Support of Regional Economic Cooperation, based in Central Asia, the delegation visited Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to gain practical knowledge and experience regarding the topics single electronic window (SEW) implementation, SEW realization in Central Asia, best practices and implementation challenges. The participating Mongolian stakeholders were delegated from operational level members of Mongolias SEW Working Group such as Mongolian Customs General Administration (MCGA), General Authority for Special Inspection of Mongolia (GASI), Information, Communications Technology and Post Authority (ICTPA), and Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI). The study tour created the opportunity for regional peer-to-peer exchange on important SEW issues with Kyrgyz and Tajik stakeholders. Finally, participants met relevant international experts by attending the regional conference Simplification of foreign trade procedures in Central Asia in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Contact : Khulan.Lhkagvasuren@giz.de top

Recent Trends in Asian Regionalism

World Bank

Competitiveness and Connectivity: Integrating Lagging Regions in Global Markets

Trade and productive integration into global markets is seen as fundamental for emerging economies and development in general. Nonetheless this process has not been spatially uniform, as integration and growth have particularly concentrated in well-located, metropolitan regions, while more peripheral regions lagged behind as argued by a recent World Bank paper. Download the paper here: www.worldbank.org/... (PDF; 1.3 MB) top United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

New forum on trade and the green economy

UNCTAD Trade and Development Board announce the setting up of a new forum on trade and green economy. The goal is to harmonise trade and environmental regulations. The first of the bi-annually held forum is scheduled for June 2013. Read the news here: www.unctad.org/... Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI)

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank: Should Asia Have Both?

Asia Have Both?

In a recent ADBI working paper, Virkam Nehru highlights the role of ADB for regional development. He also warns of a strict division of labour between both the World Bank and the ADB, as regional and global agreements need their expertise alike. Download the working paper here: www.adbi.org/... World Customs Journal

Regional FTAs and policy modernisation in Southeast Asian countries

A new paper, published in World Customs Journal, investigates the impact of trade agreements on domestic revenue policy. With regard to further enhancement of regional integration in the run up of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, Leigh Obradovic discusses the integration of international best practices into regional trade agreements to ensure a sustainable outcome for developing countries. Utilizing the cases of Thailand and Viet Nam he assesses that regional trade agreements offer an avenue to assist emerging economies modernize their tax and revenue system. Download the full article: www.worldcustomsjournal.org/... (PDF; 552 KB) China Briefing

China vows support to Cross-Border Economic Cooperation Zones

Chinas Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and five other departments jointly release set of measures for the further development of border economic cooperation zones. According to a document released in December 2012, the annual GDP growth of the cross-border economic zones should reach 20 % until 2015. Access the full article at: www.china-briefing.com/... China Daily

Connectivity as new buzzword for regional integration within the SCO framework

During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) prime ministers' meeting on December 5th 2012 in Beijing, the 12 heads of member states and observer countries highlighted the idea of connectivity in the region. Connectivity on an infrastructural level shall provide effective channels for more economic exchange and trade between the neighbouring countries. Access the full article here: www.chinadaily.com.cn/...

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Hans-Jrgen Beerfeltz, State Secretary Management Board Tanja Gnner (Chair) Dr Christoph Beier (Vice-Chair) Tom Ptz Dr Hans-Joachim Preu Cornelia Richter

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In charge of this newsletter:

Dr. Jrgen Steiger, juergen.steiger@giz.de

Editor(s):
Magnus C. M. Brod, magnus.brod@giz.de

Contributors:
Magnus C. M. Brod, magnus.brod@giz.de Julia Langendorf, julia.langendorf@giz.de Khulan Lkhagvasuren, khulan.lkhagvasuren@giz.de

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