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Work Program

A) Economic Studies
Convene regular consultations on the economic outlook for the region and factors influencing economic prospects, drawing on, for example, the work of the Pacific Economic Outlook work of the PECC.
Review data on regional trade flows and developments (covering trade in goods and services) and on capital flows (including direct investment) in order to
  • identify areas where there is a need to improve the comparability of regional data
  • identify gaps in data and improve country and industry sector coverage
  • develop new data bases as necessary.
  • Feasibility study as to what kind of analytical capacity might be desirable and affordable in order to project regional growth, investment patterns and trade flows, including for the purpose of anticipating potential infrastructure bottlenecks.
B) Trade
Intensify regional consultations at appropriate levels (both Ministerial and official) to pursue a timely and comprehensive outcome to the Uruguay Round negotiations.
  • This would be usefully complemented by a working group of regional officials to support these consultations and other trade matters of regional interest.
  • Review the differences in regional customs practices and procedures and the possibilities for harmonisation, including the liberalisation of business visa requirements.
  • Form a regional association of trade promotion organisations to promote intra regional trade.
  • Explore the scope for developing greater intra-industry trade including the establishment of a regional program of sub-contracting and multi-sourcing for finished products and industrial intermediates.
C) Investment, Technology Transfer and Related Aspects of Human Resources Development
  • Examine mechanisms to facilitate the identification of trade, investment and technology transfer opportunities in regional countries, which might include
  • the establishment of joint sectoral industry groups to identify specific projects; particularly the small and medium scale industry;
  • a data base on commercial opportunities;
  • the promotion of regional confederations of chambers of industry;
  • specific joint project investment studies; and
  • enterprise to enterprise linkages.
  • Coordinate regional trade promotion events and regional business seminars including consideration of an Asia Pacific Fair to promote regional trade, investment flows, technology transfer and human resources development.
  • Examine the feasibility of establishing a "clearing house" mechanism (e.g., an Asia Pacific Information Centre for Science and Technology) for the exchange of information on scientific, technological and industrial indicators, policies and developments, including the implications for new skills in the region.
  • Establish a comprehensive program for Human Resources development including the identification of critical skills and gaps in know-how; and the establishment of a data base on education and human resources planning and an informal information exchange network to share the expertise of regional countries.
  • Consider programs to establish networks among educational and related institutions, the exchange of managers, scientific and technical personnel throughout the region and the establishment of regional training programs including fellowships and scholarships.
  • Particular attention might be given to the needs of small and medium scale enterprises.
  • Consider the concept of industrial/technology parks (centres of technical excellence), their possible contribution to infrastuctural development in the Asia Pacific region and associated training programs.
  • Undertake a survey of research and development activities and policies of each country in the region and assess the potential for regional R & D cooperation.
  • Areas for cooperative R & D might include micro electronics, information technology, genetic engineering, biotechnology, resources, biosphere, ecology and the environment.
D) Sectoral Cooperation
  • Formation of groups of experts in each of the major infrastructure sectors (electric power, telecommunications) to assess national needs in the region, including technical studies of existing facilities and their development needs, the nature and extent of current bilateral assistance programs, the adequacy of bilateral and multilateral financing facilities to support infrastructure development and the scope for harmonising telecommunications standards in the region.
  • Consider cooperative efforts in regional transportation links, including consultations and improved data collection, designed to provide cost effective capacity to meet anticipated growth in demand.
  • Examine how to manage fisheries resources in the region in a way which maintains their long term economic viability and ensures a proper economic return to the owners of the resource.
    • recognising the scope for using existing organisations, such as the South Pacific Commission or the Forum
  • Fisheries Agency, to build a framework for enhanced fisheries cooperation.
  • Consider the scope for cooperative regional efforts to improve the long term economic viability of tropical forests, including research, and improved harvesting and management techniques.
  • Examine the scope to improve regional exchanges in relation to the basic energy resource supply and demand outlook, and energy policies and priorities, including the environmental implications of growing energy use.
  • Examine regional tourism trends and prospects, including the potential for cooperative measures to facilitate regional tourism.
  • Improve remote sensing on a global scale, inter alia to provide early warnings of natural disasters and improved climatic change studies.
  • Examine the interaction between environmental considerations and economic decision-making, initially in the area of ocean pollutants and other threats to the Pacific environment with a view to strengthening marine resource conservation.