ASEAN Secretariat Hosts Attachment Officers from CLMV Countries

12-02-2015

Source:  ASEAN Secretariat News

ASEAN Secretariat Hosts Attachment Officers from CLMV Countries

JAKARTA, 12 February 2015 – The ASEAN Secretariat welcomes the 2nd batch of officers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV) under the
"Attachment Programme for ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Involvement at the ASEAN Secretariat." The programme aims to assist CLMV countries, ASEAN's newer Member States, to strengthen their institutional capacity in managing and promoting ASEAN cooperation by improving the professionalism, competency, and confidence of their officers.

"It will be a unique opportunity for you (attachment officers) to be attached to the ASEAN Secretariat in this momentous year and participate in the realisation of the ASEAN Community," said Mr. Tran Dong Phuong, Director of the Finance, Industry and Infrastructure Directorate, in welcoming the officers to the ASEAN Secretariat. Before working under the respective Departments, the Attachment Officers (AOs) will undergo a week of induction programme, which include introduction to the work of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat, briefing on the organisation's rules and procedures as well as visits to ASEAN-related organisations in Jakarta.

The Secretariat is also hosting four officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of CLMV countries under the "IAI Attachment Programme at the ASEAN Secretariat for Junior Diplomats from CLMV." These AOs are placed in Divisions under the ASEAN Political-Security Community Department. The Attachment Programme for Junior Diplomats started in 2002 and is currently running the 13th batch.

The Attachment Programme is an activity under the Initiative for ASEAN integration (IAI), which contributes to the narrowing of development gap in ASEAN. The IAI assists ASEAN's newer Member States to implement their commitments towards building the ASEAN Community and ensures that benefits of ASEAN integration are equitably shared. This programme is funded by the Government of Japan.

Started in 2013, the programme provides support for eight attachment officers (AOs) annually to work under the AEC and ASCC Departments of the ASEAN Secretariat for one year.