Mekong - U.S. Partnership
On December 6, 2013, the United States celebrated 36 years of partnership with ASEAN with the launch of two new assistance programs. The U.S. Agency of International Development and the U.S. Department of State, in cooperation with other U.S. Government agencies, launched two new five-year programs based at the ASEAN Secretariat.
Carrie Thompson, Deputy Mission Director, USAID/RDMA represented USAID at the event that launched: 1) ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment (ACTI), which supports the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community in areas related to customs integration; trade and investment facilitation; small and medium enterprises (SMEs); clean and efficient energy; and information and communication technologies – and 2) ASEAN-U.S. Partnership for Good Governance Equitable and Sustainable Development and Security (PROGRESS), which supports intra-ASEAN and ASEAN-U.S. sector dialogue and cooperation; promotion of human rights; combatting transnational crimes and non-traditional security threats; disaster management; human capital development; improved science-based policy-making; and strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat.
Representing the ASEAN Secretariat was the Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Political Security Community (APSC), who welcomed continuing cooperation and encouraged both sides to look into other areas of cooperation that would contribute the 2015 ASEAN Community vision and beyond. The U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN conveyed that the U.S. is ready to continue to work together and support a stronger ASEAN Community.
Source: General Development Office-USAID/RDMA Monthly Highlights
