Greater Mekong Subregion

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Draft SIWG-3 Work Program

SIWG-3 Meeting Note

• Review investment trends and policy developments affecting the investment climate in the GMS in order to assess current priority thrusts and activities in GMS Business investment cooperation.
• Review the status of priority projects and activities, refine their scope, and agree on financing and implementation modalities.
• Engage the private sector, through the GMS Business Forum, in a dialogue and solicit their cooperation in supporting SIWG projects and activities.
• Present the result of the East West Economic Corridor pre-investment study and discuss the role of the SIWG in EWEC development.

Project #1: Building Institutional Capacity for Investment Promotion and Facilitation in the GMS

Leading Agency and Financier:ADB
Cooperating Agency: UNIDO/ASEAN Secretariat
Status: ADB consultant has been working on refining the scope and implementing modalities
Future actions: Regional level activities in investment promotion and facilitation

• Evolution of Internet sites with up-to-date investment information (e.g. strengthening the Business forum website).
• Benchmarking of transaction costs involving officials from all GMS countries to develop and apply methodology.
• Search process on unplanned/unintended effects of corridors (involve local stakeholders in PRA and Delphi process to identify possible positive economic effects of corridors).

• Training/workshops on investment promotion theory, and negotiation and communication skills with national and provincial actors (including simulations, role plays and avalanche scheme). Co-operation with ASEAN Secretariat will be sought.
  
• Organizing a search process (facilitated workshops) to identify means to make licensing processes faster and more predicable (involve officials, search for practical means, taking into account the prevailing incentive structure).
• Send (junior) officials on internships in investment promotion agencies. Co-operation with ASEAN Secretariat will be sought.
• Send officials of investment promotion agencies to Japan and/or Republic of Korea for practical investment promotion in cooperation with UNIDO.

Project #2: Improving the Information Architecture for Investment Facilitation Strengthening the Regulatory and Incentive Structure in the GMS

Following-up Agency: ADB
Leading Agency: To be determined
Cooperating Agency: ASEAN Secretariat
Status: The refined scope of work has been under discussion.
Future Actions:

• Explore the possibilities to link with ASEAN Investment Portal on FDI related information.
• Explore the possibility to assist in setting up and strengthen the website of the investment promotion agency of Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar and Vietnam in cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat.
• A modality for involving Yunnan Province in these activities will be explored.
• Assist Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam in improving the FDI Statistical capabilities and reporting system in co-operation with ASEAN Secretariat.

Project #3: Support to the GMS Business Forum

Status:

• Chair LNCCI and chair rotation.
• Secretariat: informal set-up in Vientiane in March 2001.
• Communication facilities has been established.

• Fully operational in June 2001.
• First year approximately $35,000 to $45,000 is needed.
• Technical assistance for setting up GMS-BF services.
• Exploring the possible collaboration with UNIDO for trade and investment missions to Tokyo and Seoul.
• Exploring the possible out sourcing services for the export promotion program with an agency such as ITC.

Scope of activities:

• Developing and maintaining website and link with member SCCI and other related agencies.
• Review of key needs and existing initiatives supporting business chambers in the GMS (e.g. through ESCAP), focusing specifically on their role in GMS investment promotion, and on strengthening investment facilitation and regulation as related to sub-regional projects.
• Integrating the financial and business services sectors into the investment network.
• Mappings of border crossings.
• Business to business workshops on trade.

Project #4: Strengthening the Regulatory and Incentive Structure in the GMS

• Refer to the studies conducted by ASEAN Secretariat based on ASEAN Investment Area program.
• Refer to the study conducted by FIAS on incentive guidelines.
• Explore the possibility of preparing a compendium of investment incentives in the GMS using a common format that is easy understood by investors.
• Focus on the sectors of "agro industry"and "tourism"for investment regulations.
• Focus on the geographic areas of East West Economic Corridor.
• Focus on regulations of "visa requirements", "work permit" and "labor requirements".

Project #5: Design and Implementation of an Investment Cooperation Mechanism in the GMS

• The refined scope of work has been under discussion.

• Review and monitor the other multi-lateral organization's efforts such as UN ESCAP and ASEAN.
• Coordinate actions with Kunming Trade Fair and ASEAN Investment Year 2002.

Project #6: Design and Implementation of a Fast-Track Approval Procedure for Investment in the GMS

• Special planning
• Physical infrastructure
• Policy and procedural reforms
• Support program
• Skills development
• Institutional development

• EWEC grouping under GMS-BF
• Promotion of AICO type schemes
• Asserted implementation of ASEAN Investment Area for EWEC
• EWEC trade and information system
• Streamline procedures for EWEC investment

Back Appendix 2	Next Inception Meeting of the GMS Business Forum (Core Group)