Germany Contributes Significantly To Asean Projects

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya JAKARTA, March 5 (Bernama) -- Germany is one of Asean's most important development partners and to date it has contributed 48 million Euros to Asean projects, an Asean senior official said. Asean Deputy Secretary-General for Corporate and Community Affairs Development, Bagas Hapsoro said other than financial assistance, the significance of Germany’s contribution came in the form of technical expertise, capacity building, skills upgrading, as well as project management. Speaking at the opening of the First Asean-Germany Strategic Planning Workshop, held at the Asean Secretariat, Bagas cited some examples to illustrate the evolution of Germany’s assistance in keeping with developments in the regional grouping. “The successful completion of the Asean-German Regional Forestry Programme was succeeded by a new Asean-German Programme on Response to Climate Change. "In the area of Regional Economic Integration, Germany is supporting two related projects on the promotion of competition policy and law, and in enhancing public-private sector engagement in the Asean Region – both at the national and the regional levels,” he said as quoted by the Asean Secretariat in a statement, Monday. Many felt that the workshop was a good opportunity for the various working groups to interact in an informal setting, which encourages freer exchange of ideas. “The review workshop could not have come at a better time. Myanmar is poised for the 2014 Chair of Asean, and Timor Leste is knocking on Asean’s doors. "Germany’s expertise and assistance will be invaluable in these exciting changes,” said Bagas. -- BERNAMA