ByTAN SRI DR. MICHAEL O.K. YEOH

Chief Executive OfficerAsian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI)

andMalaysian Representative to

ASEAN High Level Task Force on Connectivity

ASEAN Consciousness ASEAN Charter ASEAN Community ASEAN Connectivity ASEAN Centrality

ASEAN is a region of around 600 million people witha combined gross domestic product of USD1.5trillion.

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The ASEAN Leaders Summit Meeting in Thailand on 24th October 2009 issued a Statement onASEAN Connectivity.

The ASEAN Leaders affirmed that enhancing Regional Connectivity within ASEAN would benefitall ASEAN Member States through enhanced trade, investment, tourism, people-to-peopleexchanges and development which would complement on-going regional efforts to realise apeople-oriented ASEAN community by 2015 (ASEAN Leaders Statement issued in Cha-am HuaHin Thailand in October 2009).

The ASEAN Leaders in the 17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi in October 2010 issued a Declaration onthe adoption of the Master Plan on ASEAN Community:

“The Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity will promote economic growth, narrow development gaps, ASEAN integration and community building process, enhance competitiveness of

ASEAN, promote deeper social and cultural understanding as well as greater people mobility and connect its member states within the region and with the rest of the world”

The ASEAN Leaders further appreciated the support shown by ASEAN Dialogue Partners andtheir readiness to partner with ASEAN in the implementation of the Master Plan.

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The ASEAN Leaders established a High Level Task Force on ASEAN Connectivity with a Member / Representative from each of the 10 Member States.

The High Level Task Force conceptualised and presented the Master Plan on Connectivity which was adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 17th ASEAN Summit.

Under the Master Plan, ASEAN reviewed achievements made and challenges encountered that are impeding linkages to greater connectivity. Key strategies and action plans have been adopted with clear targets and timelines to enhance ASEAN Connectivity.

Through an enhanced ASEAN Connectivity, the production and distribution networks in the ASEAN region will be deepened, widened and become more entrenched in the East Asia regional and global economy.

There are 3 key pillars in the ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan:– Physical Connectivity- Institutional Connectivity- People Connectivity

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I. Physical Connectivity – Hard Infrastructure• Transport• Information and Communications Technology (ICT)• Energy

II. Institutional Connectivity – Soft Infrastructure• Trade liberalisation and facilitation• Investment and services liberalisation and facilitation• Mutual recognition agreements / arrangements• Regional transport agreements• Cross-border procedures• Capacity building programmes

III. People-to-people Connectivity• Education and Culture• Tourism

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The Goals of ASEAN Connectivity are To enhance integration and cooperation of ASEAN and local economic and social development. To enhance global competitiveness of ASEAN through stronger production networks. To enhance the well-being and livelihood of ASEAN people. To enhance rules and good governance for ASEAN. To enhance connections to economic centres both within ASEAN region and within individual member

states.

The Challenges of ASEAN Connectivity Political Will. Financial Resources. Standardisation eg Rail gauges. Speedy Implementation. Effective Monitoring and Coordination.

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Enhancing intra-regional connectivity would benefit all ASEAN Member States through enhanced trade, investment, tourism and development.

ASEAN Connectivity would expedite infrastructure development and contribute to opening up of remote island and less developed regions.

It would also significantly narrow the development gap within ASEAN.

It would contribute towards promoting local economic and social development in the region.

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The Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity is premised on the following key principles:i. Serve to accelerate, not hinder, existing ASEAN initiatives and complement ASEAN

Community building process;ii. Foster a win-win solution to reflect the interest of all ASEAN Member States;iii. Ensure synchronisation of ongoing sectoral strategies or plans within the

frameworks of ASEAN and its sub-regions;iv. Strive for balance between regional and national interest;v. Strengthen connectivity between mainland and archipelagic Southeast Asia;vi. Outward-looking and serve to promote healthy competitive dynamics among

external partners and also help preserve ASEAN centrality; andvii. Feasible in practice with clear financial mobilisation models, including the

involvement of private sector.

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The Master Plan envisages cooperation, coordination and partnership with Dialogue Partners and other external partners in expanding Connectivity beyond ASEAN.

Indian business can participate in ASEAN Connectivity projects and play a significant role in enhancing India-ASEAN Connectivity.

Enhancing India-ASEAN Connectivity will promote greater economic integration between ASEAN and India.

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India’s Look East Policy initiated in 1991 marked a strategic shift in the country’s international economic orientation towards developing economic relations with Southeast Asia.

ASEAN-India FTA signed in 2009 will lift import tariffs imposed on 80% of traded products between 2013 and 2016.

“the latest wave of Indian integration into East Asian regionalism is being driven by the activities of Indian companies” (ADB)

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a. What projects are underway to create greater integration?i. Mekong-India Economic Corridor.ii. Trilateral Highway between Thailand, Myanmar and India.iii. Economic impacts of Golden Quadrilateral of India and North-South and East-West

corridor.iv. Regional strategies (including physical and institutional).

b. What are the projected economic impacts of these connectivity-enhancing projects?i. Higher economic growth especially for smaller countries of Myanmar, Bangladesh, Cambodia

and Vietnam; and India, China and Thailand in terms of absolute value of GDP.ii. China as potential net exporter to ASEAN; India as potential net importer.iii. Energy connectivity with India will be dominated by oil and gas.iv. ICT services will be an important aspect of connectivity with India.v. Not many differences projected for people-to-people connectivity.vi India’s younger work force can play a larger role in ASEAN production systems.

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Tier I - Industrial cities such as Bangkok and Chennai to lead regional economywith large markets.

Tier 2 - Kolkata, Dhaka, Chiang Mai and Kunming, sources of economic dynamism by attracting production processes from neighbouring Tier 1 region.

Tier 3 - Expand economic activities such as agriculture, mining and tourism based on location advantages.

Myanmar and North East India – natural and mineral resources such as gas, oil, coal and limestone. Potential for agriculture and tourism.

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ICT - skills certification and development- MRT for ICT skill standards- Software collaboration- Digital economy- ASEAN Virtual Learning Centres- ASEAN Broadband Corridor

Tourism - Facilitate people mobility- Visa exemption? or Visa relaxation

Financing - Financing ASEAN Infrastructure / Connectivity projects- Leveraging on Private Capital- India-ASEAN Bond Fund- PPP projects

Infrastructure / - Air connectivityTransport - Trans ASEAN Highway

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Benefits for India* Diversification from SAPRC – limited opportunities.* Accelerate economic development resulting from physical connection.* Becoming less reliant on China for trade.* Ushering in domestic reforms.

Benefits for ASEAN* India can help make up for fall in demand from USA and Europe resulting from

India’s burgeoning consumer market.* India’s young workforce and growing middle class.* India as an alternative to China.

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