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Chairman's Statement of
"Economic Information Sharing Mechanism of the Asia-Pacific (EiSMAP)"

7 November 2006
At Kyoto University Katsura Campus

1. On the 6th and 7th of November, 2006, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Kyoto University co-organized an international conference on Sustainable Growth in the Asia-Pacific Region. Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Masayoshi Hamada, and Vice President of Kyoto University, Mr. Hiroshi Matsumoto, gave opening remarks. The Conference was attended by about thirty individuals from economies in the Asia-Pacific Region and regional and global organizations. Experts from Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States, Vietnam, the ASEAN secretariat, ADB, IMF, and the World Bank exchanged views on possible way to develop an information sharing mechanism to address new issues which are rapidly emerging in this globalization era.
2. Conference participants reached consensus on the following points.
   • (1) To effectively address challenges for sustainable growth of the Asia-Pacific region, it is necessary to continuously monitor and analyze the real economic, social and environmental trends in a more accurate and speedier manner.
   • (2) To understand the real situation of the Asia-Pacific region, identify risks for its sustainable growth and discuss measures to be taken to manage such risks, it is necessary to have a mechanism for information sharing for this region's critical challenges, while making the best use of the existing data bases of international organizations as appropriate (e.g. ADB, WB, IMF).
   • (3) The participants will cooperate for building an "Economic Information Sharing Mechanism of the Asia-Pacific; EiSMAP", a website- and internet-based information sharing network that will provide basic economic and sustainability-related data such as energy, environment, resources, etc., of the Asia-Pacific region. They will also cooperate to promote policy research related to newly emerging issues.
   • (4) EiSMAP is also characterized by policy relevance, lower cost, the shortest time lag, high credibility, appropriate choice of indices and user-friendliness. It will be value added by tailoring information to meet the needs of regional cooperation networks, particularly for comparable and trans-national (cross-border) data.
   • (5) The participants agreed that they would seek and welcome participations of additional partners who have the capability and will to contribute to building an effective and comprehensive EiSMAP project.
   • (6) Japan proposed building a small-scale trial information sharing portal (focused on data related to sustainable growth) as a next step in establishing EiSMAP on the basis of the conference discussions. The participants pledged their cooperation based on their own areas of expertise and capabilities.
   • (7) The participants agreed that EiSMAP should draw upon and complement existing data bases. Following the trial period, EiSMAP will continue to evolve through an open, flexible and consultative process, based on demonstrable value to regional institutions and the understanding of regional policy issues.
   • (8) The participants suggested that Japan explore the possibility of closer association of EiSMAP with regional and international organizations, including APEC and PECC.
3. The participants expressed the hope that they would get together again next year in Kyoto to review the progress of EiSMAP and discuss its future steps.