| 1. MFG (Manila Framework
Group) |
14 members |
| The newest regional grouping, having been
formed directly to address the issues of the crisis. Meets at the Deputies
level, about twice a year. The Group is now seen as the preeminent forum
for Asian regional surveillance and peer pressure. The IMF's Regional
Office for Asia and the Pacific provides the Technical Secretariat for
the Group. Chair alternates between an ASEAN and a non-ASEAN member. |
| 2. APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation) |
21 members |
|
Established in 1989, originally only foreign/trade
ministers had annual meetings. More recently, economic leaders (heads
of governments), and finance ministers have also met annually. Leaders
have adopted the Manila Action Plan, which stresses trade liberalization
with the target date of 2020 for free trade and investment in the region
(and 2010 for developed members); business facilitation; and economic
and technical cooperation. The Secretariat is in Singapore, and is headed
by an official from the country in the chair. |
| Homepage: http://www.apecsec.org.sg |
| 3. ASEAN (Association of South East
Asian Nations) |
10 members |
|
ASEAN has grown slowly since its establishment in 1967,
from its original five to its current 10 members. The group has seven dialogue
partners including the U.S., Japan, and the European Union. The group's
objectives range from free trade to environmental protection, social,
cultural and scientific development, and drug abuse control. Since late
1997, ASEAN Central Bankers have started to meet separately as the ASEAN
Central Bank Forum. The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta. |
| Homepage: http://www.asean.or.id |
| 4. EMEAP (Executives
Meeting of East Asia and Pacific Central Banks) |
11 members
|
|
One of the newer regional groupings, having been established
in 1991. Its members are the South East Asian and Australasian members
of SEANZA. Its objectives include enhanced regional surveillance, exchange
of views and information, and financial market development.
|
| 5. EAEC (East Asian Economic
Caucus) |
10 participants |
| Within APEC, a sub-group of
Asian countries called the East Asian Economic Caucus (EAEC) meets informally
before major APEC meetings. |
| 6. FORUM (South Pacific Forum)
|
16 members |
|
Established in 1971, it now has a total of 16 members
from the Pacific island nations. Its agenda includes such matters as
fishing rights, shipping, nuclear testing, climate change, law enforcement,
and tourism. Economic issues tend to be dealt with by Forum's Committee
on Regional Economic Issues and Trade (CREIT), which is working towards
improved access for the smaller island members to the Australian and
New Zealand markets. The Forum Secretariat is located in Suva, Fiji.
|
| 7. PIC (Pacific Islands Conference of
Leaders) |
22 members |
| A meeting of the largest group of South
Pacific islands (22 members) attended by the highest level of officials
(Presidents/Prime Ministers) but held only every other year. Sponsored
by the East-West Center in Hawaii. Recently, the focus has been on regional
cooperation, private sector development, sustainable development, and
education and training.
|
| 8. SAARC (South Asian Association
for Regional Cooperation) |
7 members
|
|
One of the few regional fora focussing on South Asian
countries. Founded in 1985, it has seven members, of which India and
Pakistan are by far the largest. Its objectives include improved social
welfare, growth, development of infrastructure, social and cultural
progress, and regional self-reliance and collaboration. More recently,
attention has moved to promoting free trade. The year 2001 has been
set as the target for the establishment of a free trade area, building
on the present preferential trade agreement. |
| Homepage: http://www.south-asia.com/saarc |
| 9. SEACEN (South East Asian
Central Banks) |
13 members |
|
Initially a training and research organization, SEACEN
has evolved from an informal grouping in the 1980s to a more substantive
forum for discussion of central banking issues. Its membership covers
the major South East Asian economies, as well as some smaller Asia-Pacific
countries. SEACEN runs a training center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
|
| 10. SEANZA (South East Asia,
New Zealand, Australia) |
17 members |
|
One of the oldest (established in 1956) and also the
largest in terms of membership of the regional policy fora, it has been
a useful grouping. It is a forum for exchange between central banks
and a vehicle for training in central banking.
|
| 11. The Six Markets Group
(also referred to as G-6, or G-4 plus 2) |
6 members |
|
One of the newer of the regional groupings, having
been established only in 1994. Initially it consisted of only the four
major Asian financial centers (Australia, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Singapore).
More recently, China and the U.S. have been invited to attend the meetings
also. The group's objectives include stability of the region's
financial and foreign exchange markets. Meetings are attended by Vice
Ministers of Finance and Deputy Governors of central banks.
|
