Regional and Subregional Program Links

Mapping the Links Between ASEAN and the GMS, BIMP-EAGA, and IMT-GT

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• Publisher: Asian Development Bank
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN:
  9789292542023
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9789292542030
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Local & Regional Planning Public Policy
• Index: Politics & International Relations

This report presents an assessment of the links among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the three subregional programs (Greater Mekong Subregion [GMS], Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area [BIMP-EAGA], Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle [IMT-GT], and the ASEAN) and is the first study that explicitly maps and analyzes the strategic program and institutional links among the three subregional programs and ASEAN. The report is based on desk reviews of official documents; national consultations with governments and private stakeholders; consultations with the secretariats of the three programs and ASEAN; commissioned studies by Asian Development Bank and other international organizations; and independent assessments by academics, practitioners, and research institutions by academics, practitioners, and research institutions.

III. STRATEGY AND PROGRAM LINKS

Approach to Strategy Mapping

The mapping of links at the strategy level consisted of a two-tiered review: (i) program-wide review; and (ii) selected sector, initiative, or program review, which is also referred to as an operational review.

The review at the program-wide strategy level examined the contents of the frameworks of the subregional programs to assess the references made to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its overarching frameworks, in particular, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint (footnote 2) and Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) (footnote 3). Explicit references to ASEAN in the strategy frameworks of the subregional programs would be an indication of the intent to operationalize links with ASEAN. Moreover, an endorsement at the strategy level is an enabler for action at the operational level; it could shape plans of actions and implementation modalities for certain initiatives. It is expected that where there is evidence of a strong link at the strategy level, a strong link would also be found at the operational level (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Two-Tiered Approach to Strategy Mapping

AEC = ASEAN Economic Community, ASEAN = Association of Southeast Asian Nations, BIMP-EAGA = Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, GMS = Greater Mekong Subregion, IMT-GT = Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth triangle, mpaC = master plan on ASEAN Connectivity, reg = regional, ta = technical assistance.

Source: ADB TA 7718-REG Study Team.

The review of strategies at the operational level focused on the links in physical and institutional connectivity as envisaged in the technical assistance (TA) project (footnote 1). In physical connectivity, the areas selected are transport and energy; in institutional connectivity, they are transport and trade facilitation. Both vertical and horizontal links were reviewed: vertical links between the three subregional programs and ASEAN, and horizontal links between the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), and Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) subregional programs. Greater focus, however, was given to the vertical links on account of the centrality of ASEAN. On the other hand, horizontal links were rather tenuous in view of the fundamental differences among the three subregional programs in their rationale, principles, and operational modalities.

The TA did not intend to conduct a sector analysis, but a review at the operational level mainly served to illustrate how links develop, are manifested, or can be further expanded. The review adopted existing strategies as given, used assessments drawn from commissioned studies and reports, and relied on official sources.

Review of Program-Wide Strategies

ASEAN Economic Community

The AEC is the end goal of Vision 2020 declared at the Bali Summit in October 2003. It embodies the desire of the ASEAN Member States to deepen and broaden economic integration by 2020. In 2007, the ASEAN Member States agreed to a single and coherent blueprint (the AEC Blueprint) for advancing the realization of the AEC by 2015, by identifying its characteristics, elements, time-bound targets, and measures for implementation. Flexibilities were agreed upon to accommodate the interests of all of the ASEAN Member States.

The AEC aims to establish ASEAN as a single market and production base to make ASEAN more dynamic and competitive. This will be achieved by (i) accelerating regional integration in priority sectors; (ii) facilitating the movement of business persons, skilled labor, and talents; and (iii) strengthening the institutional mechanisms of ASEAN. At the same time, the AEC will seek to narrow the development divide by helping to accelerate the integration of Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Myanmar, and Viet Nam—collectively known as CLMV—through the Initiative for ASEAN Integration.

The AEC has four interrelated and mutually reinforcing components:

(i)	a single market and production base,
(ii)	a highly competitive economic region,
(iii)	a region of equitable economic development, and
(iv)	a region fully integrated into the global economy.

The AEC Blueprint ensures consistency and coherence among these elements, as well as proper coordination in their implementation. Across the four AEC components are 176 measures with corresponding sets of actions. For each action, individual ASEAN Member States commit to a specific timeframe for implementation—converging in 2015—taking into account its unique legal and regulatory frameworks, and institutional capacities. A scorecard tracks progress toward AEC 2015, with targets consisting primarily of policy, legislative, and regulatory measures; and other process-oriented activities.

Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity

To give further impetus to ASEAN integration, the MPAC was launched at the 17th ASEAN Summit in October 2010. The MPAC was formulated both as a strategic document for achieving overall ASEAN connectivity, and a plan of action for immediate implementation in 2011–2015. Its three pillars connect ASEAN through (i) enhanced physical infrastructure (physical connectivity); (ii) effective institutions, mechanisms, and processes (institutional connectivity); and (iii) empowered peoples (people-to-people connectivity).

Significantly, the MPAC indicated that it will ensure the synchronization of ongoing sector strategies and plans with the framework of ASEAN and its subregional programs, including the GMS, BIMP-EAGA, and IMT-GT. The three pillars and respective components of the MPAC are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1: Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity Pillars and Component Strategies

Pillars and Objectives		Component Strategies
Physical Connectivity
Establish regional connectivity through multimodal transport system, information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, and regional energy security framework	Strategy 1 Strategy 2 Strategy 3 Strategy 4 Strategy 5 Strategy 6 Strategy 7	Complete the ASEAN Highway Network Complete the implementation of the Singapore–Kunming Rail Link Establish an efficient and integrated inland waterway system Accomplish an integrated and competitive maritime transport Establish an integrated and seamless multimodal transport Accelerate the development of ICT infrastructure Resolve institutional issues in ASEAN energy infrastructure
Institutional Connectivity
eliminate impediments to movements of vehicles, goods, services, and skilled labor across borders open ASEAN progressively to investments from within and beyond the region	Strategy 1 Strategy 2 Strategy 3 Strategy 4 Strategy 5 Strategy 6 Strategy 7 Strategy 8 Strategy 9 Strategy 10	Operationalize the three framework agreements on transport facilitation Facilitate interstate passenger land transportation Develop an ASEAN Single Aviation Market Develop an ASEAN Single Shipping Market Eliminate barriers to merchandise trade in the ASEAN region Develop an efficient and competitive logistics sector Substantially improve trade facilitation in the ASEAN region Enhance border management capabilities Open ASEAN to investments within and outside the ASEAN region Strengthen institutional capacity for policy and program coordination
People-to-People Connectivity
Increase greater people interaction in ASEAN	Strategy 1 Strategy 2	promote deeper intra-ASEAN social and cultural understanding Encourage greater intra-ASEAN people connectivity
ASEAN = Association of Southeast Asian nations. Source: Compiled from the ASEAN Secretariat. 2010. Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity. Jakarta.

Among the several actions listed under each pillar, the MPAC identified 15 priority projects (Box 1) with potentially high and immediate impacts on ASEAN connectivity. The priority projects involving key initiatives in the subregional programs are the following:

Box 1: Priority Projects in the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity

(i)	Completion of the ASEAN Highway Network missing links and upgrade of Transit Transport Routes,
(ii)	Completion of the Singapore–Kunming Rail Link missing links,
(iii)	Establishment of an ASEAN Broadband Corridor,
(iv)	Melaka–Pekan Baru Interconnection (IMT-GT: Malaysia and Indonesia),
(v)	West Kalimantan–Sarawak Interconnection (BIMP-EAGA: Indonesia and Malaysia),
(vi)	Conduct of study on the Roll-on/Roll-off network and short-sea shipping,
(vii)	Development and operationalization of mutual recognition arrangements for prioritized and selected industries,
(viii)	Establishment of common rules for standards and conformity assessment procedures,
(ix)	Operationalization of all national single windows by 2012,
(x)	Options for a framework or modality toward the phased reduction and elimination of scheduled investment restrictions and impediments,
(xi)	operationalization of ASEAN agreements on transport facilitation,
(xii)	Easing of visa requirements for ASEAN nationals,
(xiii)	Development of ASEAN virtual learning resources centers,
(xiv)	Development of information and communication technology skills standards, and
(xv)	ASEAN community building programme.

ASEAN = Association of Southeast Asian Nations, BIMP-EAGA = Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, IMT-GT = Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle.

Sources: ASEAN Secretariat. 2010. Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity. Jakarta.; BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Centre. 2012. BIMP-EAGA Implementation Blueprint 2012–2016. Kota Kinabalu; IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation. 2012, IMT-GT Implementation Blueprint: 2012–2016. putrajaya.

(i)	implementation of two power projects under the BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT priorities, which are Melaka–Pekan Baru Power Interconnection (IMT-GT: Malaysia and Indonesia), and West Kalimantan–Sarawak Power Interconnection (BIMP-EAGA: Indonesia and Malaysia);
(ii)	conduct of study on the RoRo network and short-sea shipping that relate to s...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Foreword
• Acknowledgements
• Abbreviations
• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• I. INTRODUCTION
• II. RATIONALE FOR PROMOTING LINKS AND IMPROVING COORDINATION
• III. STRATEGY AND PROGRAM LINKS
• IV. INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION AND LINKS
• V. SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS
• VI. CONCLUSIONS
• APPENDIXES
• Tables
• Footnote
• Back Cover