Partners for Progress (PFP)
A New Mechanism for Promoting Economic and Technical Cooperation in APEC
The Partners for Progress (PFP) Mechanism was proposed by then-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yohei Kono at the Jakarta APEC Ministerial Meeting held in November 1994, as a new mechanism to further promote economic and technical cooperation in APEC. Following the discussions at the APEC Senior Officials Meetings, this proposal was adopted at the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Osaka in November 1995.
Objective of Partners for Progress
To further promote economic and technical cooperation in APEC on the basis of mutual assistance and voluntarism.Mutual assistance and voluntarism are the basic principles of PFP. APEC members participate in a PFP project on a voluntary basis as partners in mutual cooperation. PFP projects should ensure that as many members as possible benefit from the projects, and should promote mutual cooperation to the greatest extent possible. The contributions of members go beyond financial assistance and can take such forms as provision of facilities, dispatch of instructors and others. Furthermore, financial contributions may come from official flows or private sector contributions.
Planning Process for PFP Projects
An APEC member volunteers to become the initiator and proposes a candidate PFP project in draft form, at one of the working groups or other relevant APEC fora for their consideration. After the endorsement of the project in one of the Working Groups or relevant fora, and the subsequent approval of the SOM, the projects are moved into an implementation phase.PFP Projects Initiated by Japan
Japan, who proposed the PFP mechanism, acted as the initiator in proposing three human resources development projects in the following areas: industrial property rights, standards and conformity assessment schemes, and competition policy. Japan hopes that other APEC member economies will also make positive use of the PFP mechanism, and thereby further promote economic and technical cooperation in APEC.Outline of Partners for Progress (PFP) Projects Project Name Host Economy and Implementing Organization Affiliated Ministry and/or Agency Outline of Training Industrial Property Rights Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), Ministry of Commerce of Thailand Patent Office Both policy and practical aspects of intellectual property rights will be covered through the Course. Part I of the Course deals mainly with policy aspects, and covers areas such as an outline of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and administrative aspects of its implementation, as well as protection of rights. Part II of the Course provides the knowledge on computerization of patent application procedures and formality examination. Standards and Conformity Assessment Schemes Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) Agency of Industrial Science and Technology The Course provides the knowledge needed to establish and rationalize standards and conformity assessment schemes. Competition Policy Department of Internal Trade (DIT), Ministry of Commerce of Thailand Fair Trade Commission The purpose of the Course is to develop human resources capable of establishing as well as effectively managing competition policy and law in order to establish an environment enabling fair and free competition and to contribute to the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment.
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