US Support Programme For Asean Community 2015

Bandar Seri Begawan - The US Department of State and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) yesterday announced a development assistance programme to help Asean achieve its goal of establishing a peaceful, prosperous and stable community of nations - the Asean Community - by 2015.

The Asean Development Vision to Advance National Cooperation and Economic Integration programme, or Advance, will run for eight years to match Asean's time frame for achieving the Asean Community. Advance was funded at $7 million in 2007 and will continue to be funded on an annual basis, according to USAID.

Scot Marciel, the US Deputy Assistant of State for East Asia and the Pacific, and Olivier Carduner, USAID's Regional Mission Director, made the announcement yesterday with Surin Pitsuwan, Asean's new Secretary-General.

Advance is the cornerstone of USAID's regional assistance programme to Asean, said Carduner. "Advance is designed to strengthen the Asean Secretariat as an institution, provide assistance to select Asean sub-regions and member nations, and facilitate greater economic integration and improved governance within the region," he said.

Marciel underlined the US Government's support of Asean. "The Joint Vision Statement of the Asean-US Enhanced Partnership, announced by President George W Bush and

Asean leaders in 2005, demonstrates the commitment of the US and our friends and allies in Southeast Asia to work together," Marciel said.

"We have a strong record of cooperation with Asean, and Advance will deepen our engagement in the region."

Advance is meant to realise the developmental goals under the 2006 Asean-US Enhanced Partnership Plan of Action. "We welcome Advance, which reflects the strong commitment of the US to vibrant Asean-US dialogue," Surin said. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with