Doc 30GA/2009/Eco Rep/01
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC MATTERS
Mr. Chairman,
I have the honour to submit the following report on the meeting of the Committee on Economic Matters:
1. The Committee on Economic Matters met on 5 August 2009 with Hon. Mr. Anusart Suwanmongkol and Hon. Mr. Charin Hansuebsai as Chairman and Rapporteur, respectively, of the Committee. The following parliamentarians from the AIPA Member Countries attended the meeting:
Brunei Darussalam:
1. Hon. Pehin Dato Goh King Chin
2. Hon. O.K.M.B. Haji Othman bin Uking
3. Hon. Mr. Haji Sulaiman bin Haji Ahai
Cambodia:
1. Hon. Mr. Chheang Vun
2. Hon. Mr. Chea Cheth
3. Hon. Mr. Nim Chantara
Indonesia:
1. Hon Prof. Wila Chandrawila Supriadi
2. Hon. Mr. Fanshurulla Asa
3. Hon. Mrs. Ulha Soraya
Laos:
1. Hon. Mrs. Souvanpheng Boupphanouvong
2. Hon. Mrs. Singkham Khongsavanh
Malaysia:
1. Hon. Datuk Akbar Ali
2. Hon. Mr. Teck Meng Liang
Philippines:
1. Hon. Ms. Reylina G. Nicolas
2. Hon. Ms. Milagros H. Magsaysay
Singapore:
1. Hon. Mr. Chan Soo Sen
2. Hon. Dr. Ahmad Mohd Magad
3. Hon. Mr. Baey Yam Keng
Thailand:
1. Hon. Lieutenant Preechaphol Pongpanit
2. Hon. Mr. Teerajitt Sthirotamawong
3. Hon. Mr. Phairoj Tanbanjong
4. Hon. Lieutenant Colonel Kamol Prachuabmoh
5. Hon. Mr. Boonchai Chokwatana
Vietnam:
1. Hon. Mr. Tran Du Lich
2. Hon. Mr. Tran Van
3. Hon. Mrs. Pham Thi Loan
Myanmar:
1. -
2. -
3. -
2. The following 5 draft resolutions were prepared and tabled for discussion;
a. Draft Resolution on Regional Economic Integration
b. Draft Resolution on Narrowing ASEAN Development Gap
c. Draft Resolution on Food and Energy Security
d. Draft Resolution on Global Economic and Financial Crisis
e. Draft Resolution on Doha Development Round
a) Resolution on Regional Economic Integration
3. The Committee was aware of the transformation of ASEAN which should be altered into a stable, prosperous, and highly competitive Community by 2015. The economy in the region would be strengthened, deepened and broadened by various frameworks and programs that ASEAN has adopted. The Committee discussed and agreed to see the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) as a strategic pillar, which plays a key role in achieving the goal of ASEAN regional economic integration.
4. The Committee recommended AIPA Member Countries to provide the harmonization of laws and early ratification of ASEAN economic agreements and initiatives. Apart from this, AIPA Member Countries should support AEC actions to promote the ASEAN Single Window and facilitate freer flow of intra-ASEAN and foreign direct investment.
b) Draft Resolution on Narrowing ASEAN Development Gap
5. The Committee was cognizant of that the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 through the implementation of the AEC Blueprint and also mindful that the AEC will deal with development disparity and accelerate the integration of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) through the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan II for 2009 – 2015 and other sub-regional initiatives.
6. The Committee recommended that AIPA Member Countries enhance parliamentary support to achieve the IAI Work Plan II, provide capacity-building assistance on legislative developments to the CLMV, as well as mobilize support and technical cooperation from the AIPA dialogue partners and international parliamentary sources for effective implementation of the IAI programs.
c) Draft Resolution on Food and Energy Security
7. The Committee was aware that food was not only as a strategic commodity in ASEAN, but should also be made available and accessible in both quantity and quality at reasonable prices that meet the needs and consumption of all ASEAN citizens. The Committee was aware the persistent causes of occasional food shortages in the region are climate change, drought and flood, lack of irrigation supplies, and depleting water sources.
8. In terms of energy security, the Committee was cognizant that secure and reliable energy supplies were crucial to support and sustain economic and industrial activities. The Committee considered the diversification of energy sources and supplies as vital to maintaining regional energy security in the long run.
9. The Committee recommended:
- Supporting the policies and measures of ASEAN to ensure food and energy security for the region, and developing legal and parliamentary means to facilitate the ASEAN food and energy security; and ensuring early ratification of ASEAN energy agreements as agreed upon at the 14th ASEAN Summit in April 2009.
- Providing legislative and parliamentary support to harmonize regulations on food safety of individual AIPA member nations, promote production of safe and healthy food by producers at all levels and strengthen food inspection and certification system.
- Mobilizing technical cooperation from dialogue partners and international organizations for ASEAN food and energy security programs.
d) Draft Resolution on Global Economic and Financial Crisis
10. Vietnam also submitted a draft resolution on this topic which shares similar principles to the original draft prepared by the host. The Committee, therefore, merged the two draft resolutions.
11. The Committee was aware that economic and financial turmoil continues to unsettle markets, and create social unrest, additional poverty and hunger for millions. Furthermore, economic recovery, job creation, repairing financial systems, trust rebuilding and increasing trade and investment, must be realized. Additionally, The Committee was mindful about the bold measures adopted by ASEAN+3 and the G-20 to address the economic crisis and acknowledged that the ASEAN+3 countries reached an agreement on the establishment of Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) as a regional self-help mechanism.
12. The Committee recognized that the parliaments must be a part of the response to the global economic and financial crisis by providing checks and balances as well as laying down effective legislative and regulatory frameworks.
13. The Committee recommended:
- Providing parliamentary perspective and recommendations to implement ASEAN measures in addressing the economic and financial crisis which are accountable to the Millennium Development Goals and the security of ASEAN Citizens.
- Calling upon AIPA Member Parliaments to provide parliamentary oversight and good governance to ensure transparent, participatory, speedy and sustainable global and regional economic and financial recovery.
- Affirming to make utmost efforts to counter protectionism, and implement constructive policies to apply essential economic measures and encourage ASEAN governments to develop healthy financial system, further investing in science, technology, and human resource development, improving macro economic management.
e) Draft Resolution on Doha Development Round
14. To conclude the Doha Development Round, the Committee was mindful that World Trade Organization (WTO) members should join hands to move the negotiation process forward as fast as possible where its success would provide a ‘stimulus package’ at a multinational level to help mitigate the negative effects of the current global economic and financial crisis.
15. The Committee acknowledged that ASEAN proposed to preserve the progress that had been achieved in 2008, especially in the areas of agriculture and industrial goods modalities, so that ASEAN shall focus on narrowing their remaining differences. At the end, the Committee was encouraged by the efforts of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization jointly organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament since 2001.
16. The Committee recommended:
- AIPA playing an important role by encouraging ASEAN Member Countries to show a sense of urgency and political will to conclude the Doha Development Round.
- Contributing to the governments of the ASEAN Member Countries in their negotiations in the WTO by providing parliamentary perspectives to the issues under negotiations and offer AIPA’s parliamentary linkages with the ASEAN constituents and the international parliamentary networks to produce meaningful and beneficial negotiations.
- Partnering with ASEAN in the people-to-people reach out programs to bridge an understanding of the ASEAN Citizens of the WTO negotiations and ensuring if applicable ratifications by the AIPA Member Parliaments of the existing and new WTO instruments and the passages of laws thereof.
17. I hereby present the Report of the Committee on Economic Matters to the 30th General Assembly. Thank you
ANUSART SUWANMONGKOL CHARIN HANSUEBSAI
CHAIRMAN RAPPORTEUR