Representatives of ASEAN member states have discussed Work Plan IV for Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) in 2021-2025 that focuses on supporting four CLMV nations: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

Representatives of ASEAN member states at the meeting on May 21. Photo: Baoquocte

The IAI for 2021-2025, which was approved at the 37th ASEAN Summit in November 2020 under the Vietnam Chair, focused on issues for the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF), mostly four IAI recipients and implementers of IAI projects.

Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to ASEAN and Chairman of the IAI task force in 2021, attended the event which marked the participation of 80 participants who come from 10 ASEAN countries.

Participants discussed 10 proposals for five strategic fields and suggested ways to carry out IAI projects in a more effective manner given that the pandemic has become more complex in the region.

Launched in 2000, the IAI is aimed to narrow development gap within ASEAN and between the bloc and the rest of the world, and to enhance ASEAN’s competitiveness as a region.

The IAI Work Plan IV (2021-2025) devotes special efforts and resources to assist CLMV countries to meet ASEAN-wide targets and commitments towards realizing the goals of the ASEAN Community.

It has been developed in close collaboration with CLMV countries, other ASEAN member states, and stakeholders, and is aligned with the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the various sectoral Work Plans. Furthermore, IAI Work Plan IV has given significant consideration to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is expected to persist and impact CLMV countries in the coming years

IAI has so far seen the adoption of three Work Plans. Work Plan I, from 2002 to 2008, comprised 232 projects in four areas. Work Plan II, from 2009 to 2015, included 182 actions aligned with the three ASEAN Community Blueprints 2015. Work Plan III contained 26 actions across five strategic areas.