The Asia Foundation

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ASIA FOUNDATION IN INDONESIA, CAMBODIA, VIETNAM, SRI LANKA, AND BANGLADESH

The Asia Foundation’s approach to effective economic governance builds on the knowledge that the engine for sustainable growth is...

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ASIA FOUNDATION IN INDONESIA, CAMBODIA, VIETNAM, SRI LANKA, AND BANGLADESH

The Asia Foundation’s approach to effective economic governance builds on the knowledge that the engine for sustainable growth is the formal and informal MSME sector, the major source of employment for most countries in Asia. However, the growth and job-generation performance of MSMEs are often constrained by a wide spectrum of institutional obstacles. To address the constraints to MSME growth, the Foundation has developed specialized tools to analyze local business environments, measure the quality of local economic governance, assess progress through a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators, and support policy reforms. Local Economic Governance Indexes (EGIs), developed in collaboration with local and international partners, are one of these tools.

11x17 version.

The Asia Foundation’s approach to effective economic governance builds on the knowledge that the engine for sustainable growth is the formal and informal MSME sector, the major source of employment for most...

11x17 version.

The Asia Foundation’s approach to effective economic governance builds on the knowledge that the engine for sustainable growth is the formal and informal MSME sector, the major source of employment for most countries in Asia. However, the growth and job-generation performance of MSMEs are often constrained by a wide spectrum of institutional obstacles. To address the constraints to MSME growth, the Foundation has developed specialized tools to analyze local business environments, measure the quality of local economic governance, assess progress through a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators, and support policy reforms. Local Economic Governance Indexes (EGIs), developed in collaboration with local and international partners, are one of these tools.

Commitment is growing among small Cambodian business owners to strengthen their own network as well as their relationship with the public sector, as demonstrated by the large turnout and vigorous participation of business owners who came...

Commitment is growing among small Cambodian business owners to strengthen their own network as well as their relationship with the public sector, as demonstrated by the large turnout and vigorous participation of business owners who came together for the cross-provincial meeting at the Sovana Phum Hotel in Kampong Chhnang on March, 28, 2007.

The Asia Foundation supports economic reform programs to encourage sustainable market-led growth, poverty reduction, and private sector involvement in the policy reform process. Better policies will boost business growth and employment, and...

The Asia Foundation supports economic reform programs to encourage sustainable market-led growth, poverty reduction, and private sector involvement in the policy reform process. Better policies will boost business growth and employment, and help improve competitiveness and reduce poverty.
In Cambodia, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) dominate the economic landscape, particularly in the provinces. MSMEs owners are among those most affected by a poor business environment, consisting of opaque regulations, lack of information, and extensive costs associated with corruption and over-regulation. The Asia Foundation’s economic reform program in Cambodia supports reform of policy-making process, empowerment of the private sector— particularly provincial MSMEs and development of a more business-friendly environment. The program encourages increased transparency and greater competition to create appropriate incentives for investment and trade.

In January, 2005, the United States, Canada, and Europe completed the phase-out of quotas governing imports of textiles and apparel in accordance with the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). The Asia Foundation works toward policy reform...

In January, 2005, the United States, Canada, and Europe completed the phase-out of quotas governing imports of textiles and apparel in accordance with the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). The Asia Foundation works toward policy reform in the post-ATC environment.

East Timor’s achievement of full statehood in May 2002 has placed the responsibilities of government completely in the hands of the East Timorese for the first time in many generations. The violent disruptions following the 1999...

East Timor’s achievement of full statehood in May 2002 has placed the responsibilities of government completely in the hands of the East Timorese for the first time in many generations. The violent disruptions following the 1999 referendum on independence triggered an exodus of capital and business acumen, both indigenous and foreign, and left behind a fractured economy with destroyed infrastructure, poorly functioning markets, and a collapsed financial sector. The new government faces daunting challenges in improving the living conditions of its population and charting a new path for economic growth. The Asia Foundation is working with the private sector of East Timor to identify the determinants of and impediments to economic growth, and is providing technical assistance to the government as it formulates a new legislative framework for investment activities.

The Asia Foundation's Women's Empowerment program opens up economic opportunities for women. Working with local partners, our projects provide women with the full range of tools they need to be productive and profitable, including job training...

The Asia Foundation's Women's Empowerment program opens up economic opportunities for women. Working with local partners, our projects provide women with the full range of tools they need to be productive and profitable, including job training and networking, access to credit, and business management training. Our projects also educate women workers on their rights and help them mobilize to reform discriminatory laws and demand fair and equal treatment in the workplace.

The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Program is committed to improving the lives and livelihood of women throughout Pakistan. With over 54 years of experience on-the-ground in Pakistan, our programs include initiatives to...

The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Program is committed to improving the lives and livelihood of women throughout Pakistan. With over 54 years of experience on-the-ground in Pakistan, our programs include initiatives to encourage women to vote, raise women’s awareness of their rights, and give women the skills to earn an income. The Asia Foundation has just completed a very successful 18-month long program to empower impoverished women in eight provinces in Pakistan. The goal of the project was to train women to use new technologies and understand markets so that they could become successful as entrepreneurs.

Regulatory Impact Assessment, or RIA, is a method widely- used in developed countries to identify the need for certain regulations. The method calculates the costs and benefits of regulation, and weighs alternative solutions to the problems...

Regulatory Impact Assessment, or RIA, is a method widely- used in developed countries to identify the need for certain regulations. The method calculates the costs and benefits of regulation, and weighs alternative solutions to the problems that are identified.

Regulatory Impact Assessment, or RIA, is a method widely- used in developed countries to identify the need for certain regulations. The method calculates the costs and benefits of regulation, and weighs alternative solutions to the problems...

Regulatory Impact Assessment, or RIA, is a method widely- used in developed countries to identify the need for certain regulations. The method calculates the costs and benefits of regulation, and weighs alternative solutions to the problems that are identified.

Since 1999, The Asia Foundation has supported initiatives to simplify business licensing at the local level.Initially, programs supported local governments to establish agencies that integrated the "front office" receipt of licensing...

Since 1999, The Asia Foundation has supported initiatives to simplify business licensing at the local level.Initially, programs supported local governments to establish agencies that integrated the "front office" receipt of licensing applications, but kept "back office" processing of permits decentralized across various other agencies. While this resulted in some improvements, the impact of these "One- Roof One-Stop Shop" (OSS) licensing reforms remained limited. The Foundation supports reforms that have resulted in "One-Door" OSS, in which both front office and back office authorities are united in a single location.

Since 1999, The Asia Foundation has supported initiatives to simplify business licensing at the local level.Initially, programs supported local governments to establish agencies that integrated the "front office" receipt of licensing...

Since 1999, The Asia Foundation has supported initiatives to simplify business licensing at the local level.Initially, programs supported local governments to establish agencies that integrated the "front office" receipt of licensing applications, but kept "back office" processing of permits decentralized across various other agencies. While this resulted in some improvements, the impact of these "One- Roof One-Stop Shop" (OSS) licensing reforms remained limited. The Foundation supports reforms that have resulted in "One-Door" OSS, in which both front office and back office authorities are united in a single location.

The Regional Autonomy Watch (KPPOD) was established in 2000 by stakeholders from the business community, journalists and researchers to monitor the impact of regional autonomy on economic growth. With support from The Asia Foundation, Regional...

The Regional Autonomy Watch (KPPOD) was established in 2000 by stakeholders from the business community, journalists and researchers to monitor the impact of regional autonomy on economic growth. With support from The Asia Foundation, Regional Autonomy Watch ranked regional competitiveness between 2001 and 2005, using perception surveys of business owners coupled with secondary data about key indicators of factors that support the regional business climate and promote healthy competition.

The Regional Autonomy Watch (KPPOD) was established in 2000 by stakeholders from the business community, journalists and researchers to monitor the impact of regional autonomy on economic growth. With support from The Asia Foundation, Regional...

The Regional Autonomy Watch (KPPOD) was established in 2000 by stakeholders from the business community, journalists and researchers to monitor the impact of regional autonomy on economic growth. With support from The Asia Foundation, Regional Autonomy Watch ranked regional competitiveness between 2001 and 2005, using perception surveys of business owners coupled with secondary data about key indicators of factors that support the regional business climate and promote healthy competition.

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to...

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to alleviate the impact of the recession in both of these countries, by supporting civil society organizations to provide legal aid and crucial social services to the most vulnerable populations, and working with local communities to develop new income-generation prospects that can link local traditions and institutions to market opportunities.

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to...

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to alleviate the impact of the recession in both of these countries, by supporting civil society organizations to provide legal aid and crucial social services to the most vulnerable populations, and working with local communities to develop new income-generation prospects that can link local traditions and institutions to market opportunities.

In this issue: "Six Days in Afghanistan," "Lotus Circle Honors Dr. David Ho for Work in Women's Health," "New Book on Economic Governance," "Future Leaders Experience Asia," "Asia Foundation President Speaks in Sydney," "South Korea's Green...

In this issue: "Six Days in Afghanistan," "Lotus Circle Honors Dr. David Ho for Work in Women's Health," "New Book on Economic Governance," "Future Leaders Experience Asia," "Asia Foundation President Speaks in Sydney," "South Korea's Green Growth," "David Arnold Meets UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon," "Featured Multimedia," and "Sri Lanka Dialogue Explores Aid Between Asian Nations."

In this issue: "Asia Foundation Hosts Australia's Foreign Minister in San Francisco," "Economist Cheng Siwei Is Asia Foundation Chang-Lin Tien Fellow, "David D. Arnold at The Economist's Banyan Conference," "2011 Survey of the Afghan People...

In this issue: "Asia Foundation Hosts Australia's Foreign Minister in San Francisco," "Economist Cheng Siwei Is Asia Foundation Chang-Lin Tien Fellow, "David D. Arnold at The Economist's Banyan Conference," "2011 Survey of the Afghan People Released in Kabul, Washington, New York, and London," "APEC 2011: Unleashing Women's Entrepreneurship in Asia," "Briefly Noted," "Featured Multimedia," "Remembering Robert Scalapino," and "A Luce Scholar Reconnects as Program Wraps Up 37th Year."