ADB-funded project supporting pro-poor value chains along East-West Economic Corridor of Greater Mekong Subregion.

This study develops and operationalises a results framework for the overall GMS Core Agriculture and Support Program Phase II (CASP-II) with linkages to a result framework for each project within the program’s ongoing and proposed pipeline. It is intended to serve three purposes: first, to ensure that the priority projects have clear goals and a logical sequence of how the goals will be achieved; second, to serve as a monitoring and evaluation mechanism of the overall and project-specific results to be achieved; and, third, to help communicate expectations about the CASP-II strategy and accomplishments among GMS partner countries, development partners and other stakeholders

The objective of the technical assistance is to (i) develop and deliver a training program for chambers of commerce and industry of nine provinces traversed by the GMS EWEC of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand and Vietnam; (ii) carry out a critical review of a previous study on the GMS value chains scoping exercise, and conduct consultations with EWEC countries in the selection of agricultural value chain products(s) and in the preparation of action plans mapping those value chains and the establishment of organic producer clusters along the EWEC; (iii) prepare a brochure outlining the ways, steps, inputs, risks and other requirements in value chain participation for use in the future training by local CCIs and their application by production associations and micro/small and medium size enterprises; and (iv) organize workshops/training courses and a trade forum on value chain integration, cluster development, organic production and certification, and linking producers/clusters established under the RETA to processing/packaging plants, supermarket chains, regional supply chains and high-end export markets.

Successful implementation among 4 large farmer groups of value chain mapping and clustering of organic vegetables along East-West Economic Corridor of Greater Mekong Subregion.

This report describes four clusters for organic vegetables along the East West Economic Corridor (EWEC). These clusters have three goals: (a) to foster the conversion of conventional agricultural farming to organic production, and thereby enable the generation of high value-added activities; (b) to promote linkages among micro and small scale producers, and thereby improve their competitive position within the value chain; and (c) to spur the development of agricultural activities affecting the majority of the EWEC population either directly or indirectly, and thereby enable the transformation of the EWEC transport and logistics corridor into a full-fledged economic corridor. The report builds on an earlier study that mapped EWEC value chains for organic vegetables.

A "one-size-fits-all" approach to clustering of organic vegetable activities along the Corridor is neither feasible or practical. Our approach has therefore been to design each cluster in terms of the specific characteristics of their producers, markets and support systems. We have based the characterization of the clusters on three criteria: (1) stage of product development, since clusters differ in terms of their products coverage (e.g., fresh vegetables versus packaged products versus processed products) or types of services (e.g., organic farm-stays and eco-tourism); (2) stage of market development, since the rate at which cluster develop is determined by the use of technologies, certifications, branding, packaging, marketing and logistics; and (3) stages of public-private sector support, since the rate of cluster development often depends on the availability of support systems and these systems vary across areas along the corridor.

Trade-related poverty impact assessment of cross-border trade impact on poverty and social issues along East-West Economic Corridor of Greater Mekong Subregion.

Strategy and Action Plan for East-West Economic Corridor and results-oriented framework for poverty reduction and growth

Support for border town development along major economic corridors of Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) through value chain development, creation of business development centers, and identification of investment opportunities.

The objective of this study is to provide a preliminary analysis on a range of CET options that could be adopted by ASEAN and to quantitatively assess their implications for each ASEAN member state and the region as a whole. The results of the study are intended to assist the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN member states in considering options under deliberations by the CCCA, which will eventually be presented to the Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) for its deliberation on the application of a CET as a long term objective of economic integration in ASEAN.

We compare the welfare effects of ASEAN FTAs relative to pre-CET and post-CET rates. While the static effects are unlikely to be large since, in the end, the final trade-weighted average tariff is the same, the dynamic effects could be significant and give rise to questions about revenue compensations prior to joining new FTAs. The welfare effects of the two sequencing paths can vary considerably. Implementation of a customs union and an FTA can also move forward simultaneously since the implementation of a customs union may be phased and FTA negotiations initiated during that time. In those cases, the existence of customs union commitments by the ASEAN member states can be considered as preceding the FTA, even though the customs union commitments are not fully implemented.

The evaluation for Vietnam relies on six criteria, the first three being used to assess project outcomes in terms of (i) project design and relevance, (ii) efficiency and (iii) effectiveness, and the remaining three, to assess impact in terms of (i) institutional development impact, (ii) sustainability, and (iii) cross-cutting issues. These criteria follow the evaluation guidelines established by the European Commission to assess the performance of trade-related technical assistance, which are themselves based on the OECD/DAC criteria for evaluation. The methodology for carrying out the evaluation consisted of a mix of document-based research and field-based evaluations relying on the following tools: (i) interviews with stakeholders, (ii) questionnaires directed mainly at the beneficiaries, (iii) context indicators specified in the log framework for the project, (iv) focus group discussions on sector-specific activities of the project, (v) review and synthesis of participant evaluations carried out at the end of various activities of the project, and (v) a panel discussion with the PSC and core group of the Technical Advisory Board (TAB).