ASEAN–Australia Development Cooperation Program
The ASEAN–Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP or AADCP II) is a seven-year program which jointly managed by ASEAN Secretariat and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID – aimed to helping ASEAN establish a regional Economic Community by 2015.
History
AADCP's precursor, a program called the ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Program (AAECP), was founded in 1974. AADCP can be seen as a next phase of regional co-operation between Australia and Southeast Asia. The program was established after the membership of Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia and Lao PDR into the bloc. Planning for the new agency initially began in 1999 while its operations were scheduled to begin in 2005. During August 2002, Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ASEAN committing A$45 million to the next phase.[1]
Function
The purpose of AACDP is to promote co-operation between Australia and ASEAN in areas of agreed regional development priorities.[2] It is funded by Australia's overseas aid agency, AusAID, a principal foreign aid management agency of the Australian government, supervised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It was continued to keep pace with economic progress in Southeast Asia and to promote the strong relations between ASEAN and Australia.[1] Offices of AADCP are located in Jakarta.