The Asia Foundation

In an article in BusinessWorld about the  conference, “Food for All: Investment Forum for Food Security in Asia and the Pacific” held at the Asian Development Bank in Manila, a farmer’s group in Mindanao is cited as an example of how small growers can target and meet  needs of hotels, supermarkets, restaurants and fastfood chains in major urban centers. The Asia Foundation is mentioned as an organizer of the conference. Read the full article: “N. Mindanao vegetable growers meet big demand.”

Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010 and Thursday, July 1, 2010
10:00am – 5:45 pm
Willard Intercontinental
1401 Pennsylvania Ave.
B1 Ballroom (Lobby Level)

The Center for U.S.-Korea Policy, Korean Economic Association, and Korean Political Science Association will co-host a public forum on the Korean development model. During this two-day conference, panels of distinguished international experts will convene to discuss various aspects of the South Korean development experience as a market economy and democracy. Panelists include Kookshin Ahn, Korean Economic Association; Katy Oh, Institute for Defense Analyses; and In June Kim, Seoul National University. Marcus Noland, Peterson Institute for International Economics and Randall Morck, University of Alberta, Canada will serve as keynote speakers. To RSVP please contact Jacqueline Cho at jcho@asiafound-dc.org with name and affiliation.

In a Manila Bulletin article about survey findings on tourism rates in the Philippines, The Asia Foundation is credited with funding the survey, conducted by the Center for Research and Communication. Read the full article: “Good record in tourism.”

San Francisco

The Asia Foundation is pleased to announce:

Building Institutions for an Asian Economic Community

with

Barry Eichengreen
George C. Pardee and Helen N. Pardee Professor of Economics and Political Science, UC Berkeley

Srinivasa Madhur
Senior Director, Office of Regional Economic Integration, Asian Development Bank

Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Program with Brown Bag Lunch Noon- 1:00 p.m.

Please arrive early for registration

World Affairs Council Auditorium
312 Sutter Street, Second Floor
San Francisco, California 94108

Asia has been successful in expanding its domestic economies, integrating them, and linking them to the global economy. Market-led integration backed by national efforts and regional cooperation has greatly benefited the region and helped it to sustain high growth. But why, despite a dense network of arrangements and institutions, does Asia remain “institution-lite” — marked by few formal or explicit commitments from member countries in terms of agenda for cooperation? Two distinguished economists will present on the Asian Development Bank’s new flagship study “Institutions for Asian Regionalism: Enhancing Cooperation and Integration in Asia and the Pacific.” Eichengreen and Madhur will lay out a framework to strengthen the region’s institutional architecture to achieve the goal of an Asian Economic Community.

Check-in: 11:30 AM, Program with brown bag lunch: 12:00 PM
Program includes lunch. Seating limited.
Reservations required.
This event is co-sponsored by The World Affairs Council

As a guest of The Asia Foundation
please click here to be redirected to the WAC website
and register at the reduced “TAF member” rate.

San Francisco

The Asia Foundation is pleased to announce:

Institutions for Asian Regionalism: Enhancing Cooperation and Integration in Asia and the Pacific
with

Barry Eichengreen
George C. Pardee and Helen N. Pardee Professor of Economics and Political Science, UC Berkeley

Srinivasa Madhur
Senior Director, Office of Regional Economic Integration, Asian Development Bank

Monday, June 14, 2010
Program with Lunch
Noon- 2:00 p.m.
Please arrive early for registration

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
101 Market Street
San Francisco

Asia has been successful in expanding its domestic economies, integrating them, and linking them to the global economy. Market-led integration backed by national efforts and regional cooperation has greatly benefited the region and helped it to sustain high growth. But why, despite a dense network of arrangements and institutions, does Asia remain “institution-lite” — marked by few formal or explicit commitments from member countries in terms of agenda for cooperation? Two distinguished economists will present on the Asian Development Bank’s new flagship study “Institutions for Asian Regionalism: Enhancing Cooperation and Integration in Asia and the Pacific.” Eichengreen and Madhur will lay out a framework to strengthen the region’s institutional architecture to achieve the goal of an Asian Economic Community.

Check-in: 11:30 AM, Program with lunch: 12:00 PM
Program includes lunch. Seating limited.
Reservations required.
This event is co-sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the California-Asia Business Council (Cal-Asia)

To register, please RSVP to Cal-Asia by June 7, 2010:
jeremy@calasia.org

In a Voice of America article about Thailand’s economic recovery strategies following the recent unrest there, The Asia Foundation’s Director of International Relations John Brandon is quoted on the possible negative effects the protests could have on tourism in the country. Read the full article: “Recent Thai Unrest Poses New Concerns For Economic Recovery.”

Radio Australia features a broadcast about the conference on regional migration in Asia held in Phnom Penh last week. Quotes from The Asia Foundation’s Program Officer for Counter Trafficking in Persons Project Louise Rose on the issue of Cambodian men being trafficked onto fishing boats in Thailand and Malaysia are featured. Listen to the interview or read the full transcript: “The dangers in trafficking Cambodian men.”

In a Phnom Penh Post article about report findings presented at a conference on regional migration, The Asia Foundation’s Program Officer for Counter Trafficking in Persons Project Louise Rose is quoted on the statistics surrounding Cambodian migration to Thailand. Read the full article: “Poverty and family debt fuel male migration to Thailand.”

Dili, Timor-Leste

The National Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, with funding and support from The Asia Foundation and USAID, held the Second International Conference on Corruption from April 21-22. The conference enlightened participants on the role of the National Parliament in combating corruption. Senior statesmen from legislatures in other developing countries shared their experience in eradicating corruption, provided insights into how parliamentarians can enhance their oversight of corruption, and identified gaps in existing legislation.

Mrs. Cipriana Pereira, President of the National Parliament’s Sub-Committee C on Anti-Corruption, explained, “This was our Second International Conference on Corruption.  We invited key international experts such as Global Organization of Parliamentarian Against Corruption and other experts in the legislative arena and national speakers, to share their ideas and perspectives on the impact of corruption on national development and successful approaches to fight corruption.”

Timor-Leste government members, leaders from all 13 districts, academics institutions, foreign embassies, international organizations and private sectors relevant to eradicating corruption attended.

“What is corruption in the context of Timor-Leste?” asked Silas Everett, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation in Timor-Leste. “We know the future of the country rests on efficient and effective spending of its petroleum wealth. In this sense, fighting corruption is a national effort—to define corruption and to ensure the coordination of national agencies with the business community, civil society, and local authorities.  Parliament’s constitutional role in this regard makes its leadership essential.”

For more information, please visit our Press Room.

The Independent features an article about The Asia Foundation’s workshop held in Rajshahi entitled, “District Public-Private Dialogue,” which focused on ways to improve trade in Bangladesh. Read the full article: “Separate industrial policy needed for N-region.”

In a Sun Star article about the Clark International Airport Corporation’s (CIAC) plans to develop a 2,367-hectare Clark Civil Aviation Complex in the Philippines, The Asia Foundation’s support is featured and the Foundation’s Country Representative in the Philippines Steven Rood is mentioned for signing a memorandum of agreement with CIAC. Read the full article: “Airport firm, NGO sign agreement to develop hub.”

An article in The Daily Star features a talk co-organized by The Asia Foundation on April 12, that urged the government to establish special economic zones in Bangladesh’s Sylhet district. Read the full article: “Dialogue demands immediate establishment of SEZ in Sylhet.”

In an article in the Phnom Penh Post about a new forum on Facebook started by the Cambodia Women in Business to act as a gathering place for Cambodian businesswomen to discuss their problems and encourage business growth, The Asia Foundation is mentioned along with the International Finance Corporation for producing a 2009 study on the business climate in Cambodia. The study’s findings helped inform the Facebook initiative. Read the full article: “Women see Facebook as a recipe for business success.”

In a New York Times article about the effect that Vietnam’s recent export decline has had on its economy, The Asia Foundation’s Director for Economic Reform and Development Programs Bruce Tolentino is quoted on the Vietnamese government’s response to the decline. Read the full article: “Vietnam Is Refining Its Role on the Global Stage.”

On an Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Connect Asia program about South Korean president Lee Myung Bak’s two-day visit to Cambodia and the rising interest in investment in Cambodia, comments from The Asia Foundation’s Regional Director for Economic Programs in Cambodia Veronique Salze-Lozac’h are featured. Listen to the program: “Car factory drives South Korean investment in Cambodia.”

In response to growing demand, The Asia Foundation will make the raw firm-level survey data from its Vietnam (2006-2008), Cambodia (2006 and 2008) and Indonesia (2007) Economic Governance Indexes (EGI) available to the public upon request, along with their accompanying survey instruments, user guides, and codebooks.

As the primary data source for The Foundation’s EGIs, these surveys collect information about local government regulations and how they impact private sector development. The data contain valuable information that will help expand research and analysis in the areas of good governance, growth, and private sector development.

The data also provides relevant economic governance information to policymakers, business leaders, and citizens. This information creates demand for an improved business environment among the private sector and provides local and national leaders with information about best practices as they seek to improve economic policies.

To request the data or for more information, visit The Asia Foundation’s Economic Governance Index page or contact Nina Merchant, Assistant Director, Economic Reform & Development, at nmerchant@asiafound.org.

In an article in the Phnom Penh Post about a new Asian Development Bank report released yesterday that warned that Asian economies are unlikely to be able to export their way out of the global economic crisis, findings from The Asia Foundation stating that 90.4 percent of Cambodian firms have fewer than four employees, and 96 percent fewer than 10, are cited. Read the full article: “Asia can’t export its way to recovery: ADB.”

The Institute of Development Studies references and links to The Asia Foundation’s Economic Governance Index video in an article about the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s recently-launched “Least Developed Countries” report. Read the full article: “Is Good Governance Good for Growth?”

A Phnom Penh Post article about concerns that ongoing tensions at Preah Vihear temple have caused a sharp drop in commerce on the border at Poipet, cites findings from The Asia Foundation’s Provincial Business Environment Scorecard (PBES) survey. Read the full article: “Border clashes blamed for Poipet downturn.”

In an article in The Phnom Penh Post about the hurdles construction companies face as a result of Cambodia’s bureaucratic licensing process, findings from The Asia Foundation’s Provincial Business Environment Scorecard survey are cited, and The Asia Foundation’s Regional Director for Economic Programs in Cambodia Veronique Salze-Lozac’h is quoted. Read the full article: “Report blasts builder burden.”