Asean Chair praises ERIA's work

He also urged increased engagement between ERIA and the Organization of Economic and Development Cooperation. ERIA is an Asean economic think tank based in Jakarta. Earlier ERIA and OCED signed a memorandum of understanding.

Ken Saw told the international participants attending the Southeast Asian Forum at the OECD headquarters here that the signing of MOU between ERIA and OECD would promote the economic integration and good practices in the region. “Asean and OECD have a long history of relations. We need to learn from the OECD experience,” he emphasized.

Ministers from Asean and dialogue countries members including Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Zealand and India also took part in the forum. Each of them discussed prospects and challenges facing Asean Community, which is approach in 2015. Thailand was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul.

Ken Zaw said that Myanmar, as the current Asean chair, gives priority to narrow the gap between the old and new members including the development of small medium enterprises to promote equality within Asean.

The Asean ministers congratulated Angel Gurria, OECD Secretary General, for launching a Southeast Asian Regional Program that would help promoting inclusive economic growth in the region.

In response, Gurria reiterated that OECD has a long history of best practices among its members and beyond and would like to share them with emerging economy.

Echoing Gurria, Prof Hidetoshi Nishimura, ERIA Executive Director said: “It is a historical moment for ERIA and OECD to forge a formal cooperation.” According to the MOU, both sides will cooperate in policy researches and studies on public private partnership (PPP) in infrastructure development, global value chain, to name but a few.