The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN, is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Its aims include the acceleration of economic growth, social progress, cultural development among its members, the protection of regional peace and stability, and to provide opportunities for member countries to discuss differences peacefully.
ASEAN covers an area of 4.46 million km², 3% of the total land area of Earth, with a population of approximately 600 million people, 8.8% of the world population. In 2010, its combined nominal GDP had grown to US$1.8 trillion. If ASEAN was a single entity, it would rank as the ninth largest economy in the world.
ASEAN history
ASEAN was preceded by an organisation called the Association of Southeast Asia, commonly called ASA, an alliance consisting of the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand that was formed in 1961. The bloc itself, however, was established on 8 August 1967, when foreign ministers of five countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand – met at the Thai Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok and signed the ASEAN Declaration, more commonly known as the Bangkok Declaration. The five foreign ministers – Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso Ramos of the Philippines, Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand – are considered the organisation's Founding Fathers.
The motivations for the birth of ASEAN were so that its members’ governing elite could concentrate on nation building, the common fear of communism, reduced faith in or mistrust of external powers in the 1960s, and a desire for economic development; not to mention Indonesia’s ambition to become a regional hegemon through regional cooperation and the hope on the part of Malaysia and Singapore to constrain Indonesia and bring it into a more cooperative framework.
In 1976, the Melanesian state of Papua New Guinea was accorded observer status. Throughout the 1970s, the organisation embarked on a program of economic cooperation, following the Bali Summit of 1976. This floundered in the mid-1980s and was only revived around 1991 due to a Thai proposal for a regional free trade area. The bloc grew when Brunei Darussalam became the sixth member on 8 January 1984, barely a week after gaining independence on 1 January.
AIMS AND PURPOSES
As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:
- To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations;
- To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter;
- To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;
- To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;
- To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples;
- To promote Southeast Asian studies; and
- To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLESIn their relations with one another, the ASEAN Member States have adopted the following fundamental principles, as contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of 1976:
- Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations;
- The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;
- Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
- Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
- Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
- Effective cooperation among themselves.
ASEAN COMMUNITYThe ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by the ASEAN Leaders on the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN, agreed on a shared vision of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.
At the 9th ASEAN Summit in 2003, the ASEAN Leaders resolved that an ASEAN Community shall be established.
At the 12th ASEAN Summit in January 2007, the Leaders affirmed their strong commitment to accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015 and signed the Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.
The ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. Each pillar has its own Blueprint, and, together with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Strategic Framework and IAI Work Plan Phase II (2009-2015), they form the Roadmap for and ASEAN Community 2009-2015.
ASEAN CHARTER
The ASEAN Charter serves as a firm foundation in achieving the ASEAN Community by providing legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN. It also codifies ASEAN norms, rules and values; sets clear targets for ASEAN; and presents accountability and compliance.
The ASEAN Charter entered into force on 15 December 2008. A gathering of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers was held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta to mark this very historic occasion for ASEAN.
With the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN will henceforth operate under a new legal framework and establish a number of new organs to boost its community-building process.
In effect, the ASEAN Charter has become a legally binding agreement among the 10 ASEAN Member States.
ASEAN Overview
ASEAN MottoThe motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.
ASEAN Day
8 August is observed as ASEAN Day.
ASEAN Name
Guidelines on the Use of the Name “ASEAN”
- The Name “ASEAN” refers to the “Association of Southeast Asian Nations”.
- The Name “ASEAN” is the reserved copyright of ASEAN.
Use of the Name “ASEAN”- The Name “ASEAN” shall be used in a manner that promotes ASEAN and its purposes and principles. It shall not be used for political propaganda or for activities that harm the dignity of ASEAN.
Enquiries and Requests for the Use of the Name “ASEAN”- Enquiries and requests for the use of the name “ASEAN” shall be submitted in writing, and accompanied with the following information: organisational profile; and purpose for the proposed use of the name “ASEAN”.
- Such request should satisfy the following conditions: The entity should be indigenous to ASEAN; The usage of the name “ASEAN” should not have any negative effect on
- the aims and objectives of ASEAN; The name “ASEAN” should not be brought into disrepute by its usage; and The use of the name “ASEAN” shall be in support of ASEAN purposes and principles.
- The ASEAN Secretariat shall consider the requests accordingly. The approval granted shall be exclusive to the proposed activity. Such approval shall not be extended to third parties.
- Authorisation to use the name “ASEAN” does not confer on those to whom it is granted any right of exclusive use, nor does it allow them to appropriate the name “ASEAN” or any similar trade name, either by registration or any other means.
- The Guidelines shall be approved by the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC).
- Any Member State may propose amendments to the Guidelines, which shall be submitted to the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) for its consideration and agreed upon by consensus. The agreed amendments shall be submitted to the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) for notation, and thereafter come into immediate effect.
Job Opportunities available at ASEAN for Indonesian citizens or ASEAN Nationals with permanent resident status in Indonesia
Administrative Assistant, ASEAN-United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Project
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of a Senior Officer in charge of IPRs and in close collaboration with the
Program Officer, the Administrative Assistant shall be responsible for the following:
- Making and finalizing travel and hotel arrangements for seminar and workshop participants, panelists and speakers;
- Preparing master lists of participants, and making name tags and named envelops for per diem disbursement purposes;
- Collecting program materials and bio-data from speakers and other sources, and producingcopies for distribution at the seminars and workshops;
- Securing from the meeting hotels or venues the necessary audio/visual equipment and facilitiesfor the presentation, reproduction and, as needed translation, of seminar and workshop materials, including binders and color separators, templates and papers for certificate reproduction etc;
- Coordinating with hotels or host-country focal points concerning receptions and other events in connection with the seminars and workshops;
- Assisting in the multi-media production and reproduction of resources and other materials for seminars and workshops;
- Arranging for the filming, editing and post-meeting production in a multi-media format, as necessary, of seminar and workshop materials;
- Assisting in the compilation of reports on seminar and workshop meetings and AWGIPC-USPTO consultations; and
- Keeping and updating the files for all activities undertaken under the ASEC-USPTO Arrangement.
Requirements:
- Be an Indonesian National;
- Possess a Bachelor’s degree in economics, development economics or law, with a good working knowledge of IPRs and the TRIPS Agreement;
- Have at least 2-3 years’ working experience in development administration or international relations in Government or international organizations involving economic and development policy and IPRs.
- Be familiar with the organization of large meetings at the regional, sub-regional and national levels;
- Be proficient in the use of computers and Microsoft Office tools such as Microsoft Access, and Excel, and graphical software.
- Have good fluency in written and spoken English.
General qualifications:
Computer literacy and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office tools; ability to multi-task, work long and irregular hours, and perform tasks outside the usual job scope; ability to function effectively, independently and as part of a team; and a willingness to travel frequently on short notice.
Closing date: 14 November 2011
For further information about remuneration and benefit that offered and complete announcement about this job vacancy please go to this link
Programme Officer, ASEAN-United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Project
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Senior Officer in charge of IPRs in the CCPID, the Program Officer shall:
- Assist in the identification of possible areas and topics for capacity-building activities under the Arrangement, and develop agendas and programs for seminars and workshops at the regional and, as and when needed, sub-regional and national levels;
- As needed, carry out IPR-related research as well as keep and update files from the searches for IP-related information and data in support of the tasks noted in (a);
- Contribute to and finalize the multi-media production and reproduction of resources and other materials for seminars and workshops;
- Liaise with ASEAN IPR focal points in the identification and selection of speakers and panelists, including keynote speakers and meeting inaugurators and moderators as well as with the selected speakers and panelists;
- As necessary, secure suitable individuals to serve as interpreters and temporary assistants for the seminars and workshops;
- Identify and invite speakers and panelists from industry, government, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society in the region;
- Identify and coordinate with government officials nominated as seminar and workshop participants, and manage additional, last-minute nominations, cancellations or substitutes;
- Prepare the evaluation forms and conduct, analyze and report on participants’ evaluations of seminars and workshops and their speakers and panelists immediately after the completion of the meetings concerned;
- Estimate the expenses required for seminars and workshops, and prepare the request for cash advance (specifying suitable currency denominations) well in advance of the meetings concerned;
- Prepare the disbursement form for, and disbursing daily subsistence allowances to, sponsored participants and speakers;
- Compile financial reports relating to seminar and workshop expenses for submission to the Trust Fund Unit, and maintain on-going liaison with the Trust Fund Unit on, as well as keeping track of, all pertinent financial matters concerning the ASEC-USPTO Arrangement; and
- Produce reports on seminar and workshop meetings and on AWGIPC-USPTO consultations, if required.
Requirements:
- Be an Indonesian national;
- Possess a Master’s degree in economics, development economics or law, with a good working knowledge of IPRs and the TRIPS Agreement;
- Have at least five years’ working experience in development administration or international relations in Government or international organizations involving economic and development policy and IPRs.
- Be experienced in research and report drafting, and familiar with the organization of large meetings at the regional, sub-regional and national levels;
- Be proficient in the use of computers and Microsoft Office tools such as Microsoft Access and Excel, and graphical software.
- Have good fluency in written and spoken English.
General qualifications:
Computer literacy and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office tools; ability to multi-task, work long and irregular hours, and perform tasks outside the usual job scope; ability to function effectively, independently and as part of a team; and a willingness to travel frequently on short notice.
Closing date: 14 November 2011
For further information about remuneration and benefit that offered and complete announcement about this job vacancy please go to this link
TECHNICAL OFFICER AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIES & NATURAL RESOURCES
Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties will cover, but not limited to, the following:
- Provide general knowledge on the works of food safety, animal health and plan health as guided by the WTO Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement;
- Assist in the coordination of issues related to food safety, animal health and plant health in production and supply of agricultural products;
- Assist in monitoring and track ASEAN activities related to food safety, animal health and plant health, i.e. coordinate follow-up actions & decisions and reporting the activities to the head of division on other related stakeholders;
- Coordinate and circulate information on the issues related to food safety, animal health and plant health as well as liaise with other international organisations and dialogue partners pertaining to the above issues;
- Provide technical & administrative support to the ASEAN bodies with respect to meetings, i.e. provide the relevant documents and logistics for the meetings, assist in the rapporteuring works in the meetings, and coordinate the follow-up actions & decisions;
- Provide administrative support with respect to implementation of programmes and projects in the area of food & agriculture, i.e. assist in the formulating, appraising & implementing programmes/projects, maintain an information system on the overall financial status of projects, including budgets and expenditures forecast, and arrange & manage project logistic such as maintaining coordination with consultants & networking with other related organisations;
- Coordinate & circulate information as requested by the Member States;
- Provide support as a resource person;
- Assist the Member States on ASEAN procedures & systems;
- Manage ASEAN Fund.
- To perform other duties as may be assigned by the Head of Agriculture Industries and Natural Resources Division.
Requirements:
- Bachelor degree in food science, agriculture, economics, management or related field from a reputable university;
- A minimum three (3) years relevant work experience in technical role;
- Demonstrated knowledge and policy, research and technical skills in the relevant area and ability to acquire them;
- Proven skills in problem solving in a complex organisational environment and in work planning;
- Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, monitor and review policy and procedures;
- Demonstrated ability to plan and organise tasks and work flows, with proven ability for accuracy under pressure and adherence to deadlines;
- Good oral and written communication skills and strong interpersonal skills, including experience in cross-cultural environment and international settings;
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain sound working relationships with stakeholders;
- Demonstrated commitment to collaborative work practices;
- Sound command of English, written and spoken.
General qualifications:
Familiarity with diplomatic practices and protocol. Other required qualities are: computer literacy and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office tools; ability to multi-task, work long and irregular hours, and perform outside the usual job scope; ability to function effectively independently and as part of a team; and a willingness to travel on short notice.
Closing Date : 18 November 2011
For further information about remuneration and benefit that offered and complete announcement about this job vacancy please go to this link
How to Apply ?
Please send your application by highlighting your suitability and potential contribution to the position together with a detailed CV, certified true copies of educational certificates obtained, and completed Employment Application Form with recent photograph, which can be downloaded at this LINK to
hr-asean@asean.org
Note :
- Please indicate on the subject heading
- Only shortlisted candidates will be notified, and the decision of the Secretary-General of ASEAN on the appointment shall be final.
