Participants in the virtual 65th IAI Task Force meeting (Source: VNA)The meetings are regular events at the ambassador andpermanent representative level between ASEAN countries and partners to reviewthe implementation of projects within the IAI framework, and to proposemeasures for further improving the implementation effectiveness of IAI workplans.
The 65th IAI Task Force meeting listened toreports by Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, which are the mainbeneficiaries of the IAI.
The task force acknowledged the official conclusion of the IAI Work Plan III (2016- 2020) on July 31, 2021, with 23 of the 26 action linesimplemented (equivalent to 88.5 percent) on all the five strategic areas, and133 projects carried out at the total cost of 42.87 million USD. The threeremaining proposed projects have been transferred to the IAI Work Plan IV.
The task force also approved one new project, raisingthe number of approved projects under the IAI Work Plan IV (2021 - 2025) to 22,including 17 funded by Singapore, three by Japan, one by Australia, and another co-sponsored by Singapore and Japan.
Ambassador Bang, who is also Chair of the IAI TaskForce in 2021, applauded the completion with good outcomes of the IAI Work PlanIII and highly valued the initial results of the projects under the Work PlanIV.
The task force agreed to continue stepping theimplementation of the Work Plan IV, with a focus on settling socio-economicimpacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the 11th consultation between the taskforce and ASEAN partners, Australia, Japan, the Republic ofKorea, China, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and the EU affirmed continuedsupport for ASEAN within the IAI framework, and that they will share opinionsand experience to help carry out the Work Plan IV more effectively.
On behalf of the task force, Bang appreciated thepartners’ contributions to the IAI projects, noting that these projects havebeen and will continue contributing to the ASEAN Comprehensive RecoveryFramework as well as the bloc’s efforts in COVID-19 response.
He also appealed to the partners to keep activelycontributing the IAI Work Plan IV.
The IAI was launched in 2000 with the goal ofnarrowing the developing gap among ASEAN countries and assisting new members (Cambodia,Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam) to fully integrate into the regional economy./.
VNA
