Asean

One of Malaysia's leading banks, the CIMB Group, released a statement last February in which its chief executive, Dato' Sri Nazir Razak, stated that 'we have to see ASEAN as a region and produce ASEAN champions'. The statement is significant because CIMB is one of a handful of banks seeking to extend its operations across ASEAN countries. The statement has added significance because Malaysia has a growing services sector which it hopes will help drive the country's future growth. Trade in goods is still a priority for Malaysia, but it will not be long before a transition toward trade in services takes place — and it is banks like CIMB that are already leading this trend. Nazir is right when he notes that 'ASEAN needs to have scale in order to deliver in today's world'. And ASEAN has just that: a community of 10 economies with a combined population of almost 600 million and a total GDP of US$1856 billion. The growth prospects of the middle class in economies like Thailand, … [Read more...] about Malaysia pushes for greater ASEAN integration

Nhan Dan/VNA - A week-long 2013 ASEAN Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise (ARDEX-13) wrapped up in Hanoi on October 24. >> ASEAN field simulation exercise held in Hanoi's Ba Vi district >> ASEAN disaster response exercise opens in Hanoi During the exercises regional countries, including Vietnam, shared their experiences in responding to emergency disasters. The review ceremony was co-organised by the National Committee for Search and Rescue, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and ASEAN Co-ordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA). At the event, ASEAN members and observers hailed the participating forces for their activeness and co-ordination in addressing the exercise's simulated scenarios. This is the first time that Vietnam and the AHA have co-ordinated in holding the event, said Vu Van Tu, Chairman of the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention. The drill also helped Vietnam review … [Read more...] about ASEAN disaster drill concludes

(VOVworld) - ASEAN countries and foreign observers involved in the 2013 ASEAN Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise (Ardex-13) in Vietnam appreciated the practical results of the event. Speaking at a meeting to review the exercise, they praised the ARDEX 13 scenario, making reports to AHA center, quick evaluation of the situation, and emergency activities. Representatives from ASEAN countries also complimented those forces involved in the exercise for their active cooperation to resolve difficult simulated circumstances. ASEAN countries have had an opportunity to share lessons in urgent disaster responses. It's also an event for Vietnam to review and adjust its law on natural disaster prevention and mitigation so as to improve their cooperative mechanisms with regional countries. … [Read more...] about Sharing experience in ASEAN urgent disaster response

The 2013 ASEAN Disaster Emergency Response Exercise (ARDEX-13), a rehearsal of responses to Super Typhoon 'Neptune' hosted by Vietnam, opened on Wednesday in Hanoi with the participation of ten ASEAN countries. The exercise took place yesterday morning in Thuy An Commune, Ba Vi District, with the participation of 2,500 people, 698 means of transport including two helicopters, 23 ships and motorboats, and 245 trucks of various kinds, and a lot of communications and medical equipment. Of the ten ASEAN countries, seven directly joined the event while the three others were observers. The exercise is aimed to strengthen ASEAN's collective response to massive disasters in the region through practicing, assessing and reviewing disaster emergency response mechanisms under the ASEAN Standby Arrangements and Standard Operating Procedures, said Major General Nguyen Hoai Giang, chief of the Committee's Secretariat and head of the Defense Ministry's Rescue and Salvage Department. ARDEX-13 will use … [Read more...] about ASEAN Disaster Emergency Response Exercise opens in Hanoi

Nhan Dan - A field simulation exercise was held in Thuy An commune, Ba Vi district, Hanoi on October 23 as part of the four-day ASEAN Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise 2013 (ARDEX-13). The event saw the participation of the ten ASEAN member countries, as wella s observers from China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, the US, the UN and other international organisations. The exercise is predicated on a hypothetical scenario in which super Typhoon Neptune hits the northern delta provinces of Vietnam, causing large scale inundation, impacting dyke systems and claiming thousands of lives. The storm also affects tens of thousands of people, damaging and flooding their houses and putting them in need of emergency assistance. The ASEAN Co-ordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) handles the communication, co-ordination and aid facilitation processes, while other member countries send assistance to Vietnam. ARDEX-13 is an … [Read more...] about ASEAN field simulation exercise held in Hanoi’s Ba Vi district