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The European Union’s

Asia-Invest Programme 2003-2007

Building EU-Asia Business Partnerships

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• One of 5 EC regional co-operation initiatives with Asia

• Asia-Invest aims to promote and support business co-operation between the EU and Asia

• Asia-Invest assists business organisations through a range of co-financing activities and high-quality projects that facilitate trade and investment

• 164 projects implemented under the first phase for €30 million– 50% of projects involving China, 30% of projects

involving South-East Asia, 20% of projects involving South Asia

• Second 5-year phase, Asia-Invest II, to build upon the success of the first phase with €41 million

Asia-Invest EU-Asia Business co-operation

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Regional co-operation Eligible countries

Asia:AfghanistanBangladesh

BhutanCambodia

ChinaEast Timor

IndiaIndonesiaLao PDRMalaysiaMaldives

NepalPakistan

PhilippinesSri LankaThailandVietnam

EU:Austria

BelgiumDenmark

FinlandFrance

GermanyGreeceIreland

ItalyLuxembourgNetherlands

PortugalSpain

SwedenUnited Kingdom

Organisations from Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong and Macao are welcome to participate as Associated Partners in project activities, provided they finance their own participation.

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Strengthen mutual trade and investment flows between the EU and Asia:

• Increase awareness of business potential between the two regions

• Facilitate opportunities for partnerships between SMEs

• Enhance Asian private sector development and its internationalisation

• Reinforce institutional capacity, business dialogue and networking of business intermediaries

• Particular efforts to enhance the export capabilities and FDI of the less prosperous countries in Asia

Asia-Invest II Key objectives

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Three main priority areas:

• Business to business match-making for companies– providing opportunities for partnership, in particular

between SMEs

• Development of the Asian private sector – strengthening the capacity of companies to develop

partnerships with EU companies and market research to unlock new business opportunities, especially in the less prosperous countries

• Capacity-building and networking for intermediaries– improving the business environment by building the

capacity of business intermediary organisations and opportunities for networking

Asia-Invest IIAreas of activity

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Asia-Invest II 2003-2007

Call for Proposals

Separate Award Procedure

Asia-Invest Forum

Asia Investment & Trade Facilitation Studies

Match-making activities

Private sector development

Institutional capacity building

Asia Venture

Asia-Interprise

Asia-Partenariat

Asia-Invest Technical Assistance

Asia-Invest Alliance

A new phase of opportunities

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Asia-Venture Business missions Targeting developing markets

• Small-scale trade missions and flexible business encounters to raise EU awareness about opportunities in less prosperous countries in Asia and promote their market potential

• In one or more sectors, involving at least 10 visiting and 15 hosting companies

• Targeting Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, East Timor, Laos, Nepal, Indonesia and Pakistan

• Maximum project duration: 24 months• EC grant range: €40.000 - 80.000 • EC contribution to total costs: 80 - 95%

– Up to 95% for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, East Timor, Laos, Nepal and up to 80% for Indonesia and Pakistan

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Asia Venture Activities

Typical activities

• Promotion of market potential for trade• Trade missions from the EU/from Asia

– eg. bringing a small number of EU companies to meet with SMEs from eligible Asian countries and vice versa

• Combining such activities with other events eg. trade fairs

• www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest/html2002/aip2_asiaventurescheme.htm

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Asia-Interprise Business match-making

Business to business match-making events

• Medium-scale business encounters in the EU or Asia, involving one or several sectors

• At least 30 hosting companies and 20 visiting companies

• Maximum project duration: 24 months • EC grant range(up to 150 companies): €80.000 -

150.000 • EC grant range(over 150 companies): €150.000 -

300.000• EC contribution to total costs: Up to 50%

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Asia-Interprise Business match-making

Typical activities

• Identification and selection of companies, preparation of catalogue, targeted promotion and search for potential participants

• Business preparation for companies involved in match-making (market information, business and culture familiarisation for targeted sectors)

• Organisation of face-to-face business meetings for EU and Asian SMEs

• Follow-up activities to support the realisation of the partnerships

• www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest/html2002/aip2_asiainterprisescheme.htm

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Asia-Interprise Examples

Past projects

• Naples, Italy, 'The Food Industry: possible agreements between EU and Chinese companies, 25-26 June 2001 – 100 EU and Asian companies, 738 business meetings

• Kuala Lumpur, ‘Co-operation Meeting Water Technologies’, 27-28 March 2002– 75 EU and Asian companies, 266 business meetings

• Dusseldorf, Germany, “AMBasia” Automation/process control, medical and biotechnology, 19-21 November 2002– 149 EU and Asian companies, 790 business meetings

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Asia Partenariat Annual business match-making eventLarge-scale match-making in Asia

• Large scale multi-sector business meetings in Asia to facilitate partnerships between EU and Asian companies

• Separate Call for Proposals• EC grant: € 400.000 - 1.200.000• Maximum EC contribution: 50%

Typical activities

• Identification and selection of Asian host companies, promotion campaign of the Asian country in the EU, business preparation for companies prior to match-making, organisation of the 2 days match-making meetings, follow-up activities to support potential partnerships

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Asia Partenariat Activities

Past Partenariats

• ASEAN (1997), India (1999), Malaysia (2002), China (2002)

Up and coming Partenariats

• EU-Sri Lanka Partenariat (3-4 June 2004)• EU-India (2005) • EU-Thailand (2005)

• www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest/html2002/aip2_asiapartenariatscheme.htm

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Technical Assistance Development of private sector in Asia Strengthening SMEs in Asia

• Asian private sector support: training and upgrading of skills of Asian companies

• Maximum project duration: 24 months• EC grant range: €50.000 - 150.000• EC contribution to total costs: 50 - 95%

– Up to 95% for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, East Timor, Laos, Nepal; up to 80% for Indonesia and Pakistan; up to 50% for all remaining eligible countries

Typical activities

• Training of at least 10 Asian companies to contribute to internationalising their business strategies for sustainable trade and investment

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Technical Assistance Development of the private sector in Asia Typical activities

• Upgrading the marketing and technical know-how of Asian SMEs

• Training for Asian organisations on technical regulations for access to international markets

• Collaborative workshops for standards and quality management

• Exchange of best practice, production techniques, technological know-how to strengthen links to EU companies

• www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest/html2002/aip2_asiainvesttechnicalassistancescheme.htm

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Technical Assistance Development of the private sector in Asia Past projects

• Training on EU technical standards and Quality Management systems (China)

• Train the trainers on multi-modal transport and logistics management (Vietnam)

• Technology transfer to the fine jewellery sector (the Philippines)

• Research Technology Know How, Transfer and Training Co-operation for Development in the Jute Industry channel to develop new high added value products (Bangladesh)

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Asia-Invest Alliance Institutional capacity-building

Strengthening networks between EU and Asia

• Institutional capacity building of Asian intermediaries to effectively service local companies

• Enhanced networking and dialogue between EU and Asian intermediaries to develop a meaningful and sustainable network and to facilitate new trade and investment opportunities

• Necessary to invite the EU Chamber of Commerce to participate in the proposal

• Maximum project duration: 24 months• EC grant range: €50.000 - 200.000• EC contribution to total costs: 75 - 95%

– Up to 95% for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, East Timor, Laos, Nepal; up to 80% for Indonesia and Pakistan; up to 75% for all remaining eligible countries

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Asia-Invest Alliance Activities

Typical activities

• Capacity building, workshops and training – business familiarisation– market opportunities– organisational methods – promotional strategies

• Mutual visits and staff exchanges

• Creation of information links and the exchange of match-making opportunities between EU and Asian intermediaries– developing a partner search database

• www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asiainvest/html2002/aip2_asiainvestalliancescheme.htm

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Asia-Invest II Proposal status 2003

Maximum of 75 projects for €6.5M for 4 instruments (Partenariat as a separate Call)

• 39 proposals submitted under first deadline involving 172 organisations in partnership; 16 projects approved (41%) for €2.25 million

• 42 proposals submitted under second deadline involving 122 organisations in partnership, still being evaluated

• Call for Proposal 2003 remains open with the third deadline on 8 January 2004

• New Call for Proposals 2004 to be launched in January 2004 with two deadlines (April and October 2004)

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Asia-Invest II How to Apply

Who can submit a proposal? These non-profit eligible organisations:

• Chambers of Commerce • Sector-specific trade and industrial associations• Agencies promoting trade and investment

(including Boards of Investment)• Business and professional associations• Technology, management, standards and quality

institutes

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Asia-Invest II Procedures for funding

How to prepare a proposal to receive a grant?

• Form a strong partnership between at least one EU and one Asian organisation (your own network or Partner Search on Asia-Invest web site)

• Review the Guidelines for Applicants following a Call for Proposals (published on Asia-Invest web site)

• Prepare proposal carefully according to Guidelines for Applicants including the Application Form (Annex A) and Budget (Annex B) and other necessary documentation

• Refer to the FAQs and suggestions for best practice (regularly updated on the Asia-Invest web site)

• Submit proposal to the Commission for evaluation• www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest/

html2002/howtoapply.htm

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Partner Search Finding an EU partner organisation Euro-Info Centres network • Contact EICs for partner information

www.europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/networks/eic/eic.html

Partner Search facility on Asia-Invest web site• Register your contact details and project ideas

www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest/psdb/psdb_introduction.htm

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Asia-Invest Studies Trade and investment facilitation ‘Guidebooks’ for EU investors in Asia

• Market research activities on trade and investment to provide companies with independent, in-depth analyses of the framework conditions related to the business environment and opportunities available in Asian countries

Past studies • Bangladesh (2001), Nepal (2001), Sri Lanka (2001), India (2002),

Vietnam (2002)

Up and coming studies• New Opportunities for EU Companies in the ASEAN area (2003)• Guidebook for EU Investors in Pakistan (2004)• Guidebook for EU Investors in Cambodia (2004)• Impact of EU Enlargement on EC-India Country Strategy Paper (2004)• Economic Integration in SAARC (2004)

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Asia-Invest Forum Platform for networking

Networking for intermediaries

• Workshops and conferences to promote networking and dialogue among EU and Asian business intermediaries, institutional dialogue between public authorities and private sector

• In conjunction with the Asia-Invest Partner Search facility

Past Forum

• China, 5 November 2002

Up and coming projects

• Ho Chi Minh, 30-31 October 2003 • Sri Lanka (31 May - 1 June 2004)

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Promotion and information Key areas of supportPromotion and marketing• Web site, promotional literature (Updates, flyers,

project fact sheets, resource sheets), mailing lists, collaboration with Delegations, presentations, missions, Information Sessions

Assistance to potential applicants • Guidelines for Applicants, Application A to Z, FAQs,

results feedback

Partner Search • networking facility listing organisations and their

project ideas and interests (90 organisations registered)

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Further informationHow to stay updated

• Visit the Asia-Invest web sitewww.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest

– Subscribe to the Asia-Invest Update

– Read the latest developments and up and coming activities (‘News’ and ‘Events’)

– Review open Calls for Proposals and Guidelines for Applicants (‘How to Apply’)

– Review Project Fact Sheets (‘Projects’)

– Read studies by country (‘Publications’)

– Register on the Asia-Invest Partner Search facility (‘Partner Search’)

– View Suggestions for Best Practice (‘Instruments’)

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Contact DetailsEuropean Commission

EuropeAid Co-operation Office Asia -Invest 1049 Brussels - BelgiumTel: +32 2 295 9503 Fax: +32 2 296 5833Email: europeaid-asia-invest@cec.eu.int

www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest

Delegations to the European Commission in Asiawww.europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/delegations/intro/

web.htm

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EuropeAid Co-operation Office EU-Asia co-operation programmesOther regional co-operation initiatives

• Asia-Pro Eco: co-operation in environmental issues

• Asia-Urbs : co-operation in urban development

• Asia-IT&C: co-operation in information & communications technologies

• Asia-Link: co-operation in higher education

• AUNP: Asean University Network Programme

www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects