Background
The ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB) organized the first or pilot ASEAN Rice Trade Forum with the theme, Managing the Risks of Extreme Rice Price Volatility, in Siem Reap, Cambodia in 2012. The second forum, themed Rice Trade and Self-Sufficiency, took place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 2013. Both forums provided a venue for discussing current and emerging policy issues that affect food security and trade in the ASEAN region.
During its 35th annual meeting in June 2015, the AFSRB endorsed the organization of the ASEAN Food Trade Forum as one activity under the Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN Region (SPA-FS), 2015-2020. The scope of the forum has been expanded to include other staple foods while maintaining focus on rice.
ADB regional technical assistance, TA 8693-REG Food Security and Resilience of ASEAN Member States to Food Price Volatility, supports the implementation of the SPA-FS. The TA is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.
Theme
The forum adopts the theme Food Security and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) due to its timeliness and relevance. The Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN Region (SPA-FS), 2015-2020 is being implemented at the onset of AEC 2015, which transforms the ASEAN region into one that allows for free movement of goods, services, investment, and skilled labor, as well as freer flow of capital.
Objectives
At the end of the forum, participants are expected to have:
- increased understanding of ASEAN Economic Community and its implications on food trade and food security in the ASEAN region
- assessed the status of food trade facilitation in the region
- analyzed country readiness for ASEAN Economic Community
- identified policy options that deepen and diversify food trade consistent with the ASEAN Economic Community framework
Target participants
Participation is by invitation only. About 100 representatives from ASEAN governments, farmers/producers, private traders, consumer groups, NGOs, academia and research institutions, ASEAN dialogue or trading partners, and development partners are expected to attend the forum.
Side events
- Food exhibit (24-25 November)
- Field visit to agriculture projects in Kedah (26 November - half day)
Partners
- ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board
- Government of Japan through the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction
- Government of Malaysia through the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry
- ASEAN Secretariat