Advancing East Asian economic integration - ERIA
In this insightful and comprehensive overview (full text below), Professor Gary Hawke reports on the inaugural meeting of the Academic Advisory Council (AAC) of the Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), held in Jakarta on 18 May 2009.
A relatively new organisation, the institute was set up in June 2008 with funding from Japan and through a decision by the 16 leaders at the 2007 East Asia Summit (EAS). In its capacity as an independent research institute, ERIA has already been able to produce a significant amount of research as well as concrete policy recommendations to a number of economic and energy ministers. Project research teams are drawn from leading academic or research bodies in each of the 16 EAS member countries. The representative organisation for New Zealand is the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER).
ERIA benefits from this vast regional network as well as from strong connections with influential regional organisations such as ASEAN, EAS and the Asian Development Bank. Its founding, according to Professor Hawke, needs to be seen in the light of continuing efforts to promote East Asian economic integration. The article makes some intriguing observations on the different channels of influence that have contributed to a prolific array of regional bodies in the Asia-Pacific, and the place ERIA currently occupies amongst these as the supporter of ASEAN-driven economic integration processes. Not limited to research reports, ERIA is committed to producing practical policy recommendations and maintaining strong ties to the policy-making process at high government level.
Three main areas of research have been established and will continue to be reflected in ERIA research projects over the coming year. These are deepening economic integration; narrowing development gaps; and sustainable economic development. Key figures on the Academic Advisory Council include seasoned Track 2 and academic professionals across the Asia-Pacific, such as Professor Peter Drysdale of the Australian National University; Hadi Soesatro, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and a founder of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC); and Hank Lim, former Executive Director of the Pacific Economic Co-operation Council (PECC) and now Research Director of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
ERIA (www.eria.org) is based in Jakarta and in 2009 will start the ERIA/JENESYS Next Leaders Program, a scholarship to enable students from ASEAN countries to study and gain practical policy research experience in Japan.
- Download the full article by Professor Gary Hawke
