2006 2007 brief

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Asia-Invest Programme Building EU-Asia business partnerships Centralised Operations Asia EuropeAid Co-operation Office (AIDCO/D2)

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Asia-Invest OPPORTUNITIES FOR EU-ASIA BUSINESS CO-OPERATION: Aims to promote and facilitate direct EU-Asia business co-operation and assist SMEs to internationalise their business strategy Targets eligible business organisations representing SMEs Commenced in 1997 with a Commission contribution of €35 million More than 320 projects supported to date across a range of sectors, involving 1200 organisations A new Commission contribution of €20 million provided for Asia-Invest 2006-2007 to build upon success of previous phases

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Participating countries ASIA: Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan Cambodia China India Indonesia Lao PDR Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Nepal North Korea Pakistan Philippines Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam EU: Austria Belgium Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom Organisations from Brunei, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao and Singapore can fully participate in projects as associates, provided they carry their own costs (with the exception of travel costs and per diem) LCDs underlined OTHER: Bulgaria Croatia FYRoM Romania Turkey Iceland Norway Liechtenstein

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Who can apply ELIGIBLE BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS REPRESENTING SMES: Chambers of commerce, government agencies, sector-specific trade, industrial and professional associations, employers’ federations and local agencies, administrations promoting or facilitating trade and investment, regulators, and non-governmental organisations In partnership: European + Asian organisations Projects ultimately benefit companies, the wider business community and the EU-Asia business network

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Open call CALLS FOR PROPOSALS 2006-2007: Launched on 17 June 2006 2 deadlines 6 Oct 2006 andamp; 9 March 2007 Continued support for matchmaking, strengthening capacity, exchange of experience and networking among European and Asian business organisations, with a regional (‘Asia-wide’) approach Indicative priority areas of activity and sectors for co-operation Subject to new requirements outlined in Guidelines for Applicants 2006-2007

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Areas of Activity CO-FINANCED ACTIVITIES 2006-2007: Business Matchmaking Business meeting and matchmaking events aimed at providing companies with opportunities for partnership with business preparation and follow-up to improve quality of activities and facilitate conclusion of partnership agreements Capacity Building SMEs: training and upgrading skills available within targeted Asian enterprises with strong potential for developing partnerships with European companies, including Practical Demonstration actions BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS: reinforcing capacity of and networking between European and Asian organisations, with a view to making them better equipped to service the local businesses and facilitate trade between Europe and Asia

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Project features SPECIFICATIONS 2006-2007: Partnership requirements Strong partnership – minimum 3 partners (2 EU organisations + 1 Asia organisation or 2 Asia + 1 EU), preferably more Co-financing ceiling (grant size) EUR 100.000 - EUR 600.000 Up to 75% EC contribution for all eligible countries Up to 95% for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal and North Korea Project Duration 12-36 months (maximum)

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Priorities PRIORITY ISSUES 2006-2007: Ensuring an Asia-wide dimension of projects Enhancing the export capabilities and foreign direct investment prospects of the less developed countries in Asia (LDCs) Ensuring involvement of less developed regions (LDRs) e.g. within China (Central and West) Promoting integration of Asian countries into the Information Society through business orientated information technologies Indicative regional priorities: Of relevance for example: Alignment with European Standards (e.g. industrial, environmental, agricultural, fisheries, finance, sanitary and phyto sanitary, customs), Intellectual Property Rights, Dismantling Technical Barriers to Trade, Corporate Social Responsibility Not relevant for example: Garments partially made, leather goods including shoes, textiles, clothing and fashion garments, toys, automotive and ancillaries

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Key changes CHANGES: Asia-wide dimension is required Structure of co-financing components – simplified and broadened Partnership requirements – regional, minimum of three Wider European coverage following the untying of aid. Co-financing ceiling – increased to €600 000 Actions targeting North Korea and Mongolia eligible for a 95 % co-financing (like actions targeting Least Developed Countries) Application procedures and administrative requirements – updated and simplified www.europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/tender/practical_guide_2006/index_en.htm HQ and Delegations share responsibility of evaluations

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Future FUTURE OF THE PROGRAMME - BEYOND 2007: Strategy (DG RELEX): New strategic and financial perspectives under preparation for 2008-2013 Asia-Invest activities envisaged to continue beyond 2007 Trade and investment instruments and objectives will be adjusted to take into account new priorities and the changed situation in Asia, including the need to further promote regional integration

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Asia Partenariat PARTENARIAT EVENTS: Asia Partenariat Two-day large-scale multi-sector match-making meetings Significant public and political profile Platform for EU and Asian companies to pursue concrete co-operation Commission support between 400.000 and 1.200.000, up to 50% co-financing of the event Past Partenariats: EU-ASEAN (1997), EU-India (1999), EU-Malaysia (2002), EU-China (2002), EU- Sri Lanka (2004), EU-Thailand (2005) EU-China Partenariat 2006, Chengdu 9-10 November www.euchinapartenariat.com

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Forum HIGH-QUALITY NETWORKING: Asia-Invest Forum Two-day event with workshops and conferences to promote networking and dialogue among EU and Asian between 90 EU andamp; Asian business organisations from the public and private sector Past Forums: China (2002), Vietnam (2003), Sri Lanka (2004), Thailand (2005) Asia-Invest Forum China 2006, Chengdu 6-7 November

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Contact us CONTACT DETAILS: EuropeAid Co-operation Office 1049 Brussels – Belgium Tel: +32 2 298 6737 Fax: +32 2 298 4863 Delegations to the European Commission in Asia: www.ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/delegations/intro/web.htm Email: europeaid-asia-invest@ec.europa.eu Website: www.ec.europa.eu/comm/europeaid/projects/asia-invest