Press Releases

Agreement in principle on the Japan-ASEAN Technical Cooperation Agreement

August 2, 2018

　On August 2nd, on the occasion of the Japan-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Foreign Minister Kono and Foreign Ministers of ASEAN Member States confirmed and welcomed that the Government of Japan and ASEAN reached an agreement in principle on the Japan-ASEAN Technical Cooperation Agreement. The Government of Japan and ASEAN will undertake necessary procedures and coordination aiming at the signing of the Agreement at the earliest possible time.
　The conclusion of the Agreement will enable the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to carry out technical cooperation for ASEAN as a unity. While specific cooperation programs will be considered in the future, it is expected that JICA would dispatch its experts to the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta in order to create a linkage of and coordinate respective Japan’s ongoing technical cooperation programs in each ASEAN Member State and that JICA would dispatch JICA experts or provide equipment to ASEAN facilities such as the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.
　It is expected that such technical cooperation implemented by JICA will promote the enhancement of ASEAN’s unity and centrality, and support the development of the ASEAN Economic Community, and thereby contribute to realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific through the strengthening of connectivity.