2016-2025 Investment Work Programme

The 2016-2025 Investment Work Programme builds on the foundation laid out by the 2011-2015 Investment Work Programme and contains a list of specific activities in accordance with the objectives and general principles of ACIA. The 2016-2025 Investment Work Programme is intended to enhance investment liberalisation, protection, promotion and facilitation.  It is also meant to build the capacity of ASEAN Member States (AMSs) on various relevant investment issues and topics.  Activities under the 2016-2025 Investment Work Programme, includes:  

Investment Liberalisation

1. Annual Investment Peer Review Process
2. Assessment of the Openness of Investment Regimes of ASEAN

Investment Protection

1. Study of Investment Provisions in ASEAN FTAs
2. Workshops on Investor-State Dispute Settlement
3. Assessment on the Reform of Investor-State Dispute Settlement and the Possible Establishment of an ASEAN Investment Tribunal/Multilateral Investment Court

Investment Facilitation

1. Investment Facilitation and Technical Assistance for Newer ASEAN Member States
2. Conduct of the Study on Outsourcing Opportunities in ASEAN
3. Conduct of the Best Practices for Investment Promotion and Facilitation in ASEAN
4. Conduct of Investment Policy Dialogues

Investment Promotion

1. Outbound Investment Missions to promote intra-ASEAN investment
2. Development of the ASEAN Investment Website http://investasean.asean.org/ to serve as ASEAN’s gateway to promote ASEAN as a single investment destination
3. Promoting the ACIA to socialise and create awareness on the ACIA through the following:

1. • Publication of the ACIA Guidebook for Businesses and Investors
   • Creation of the ACIA Handbook and Kit for Investment Promotion Agencies
   • Seminars on ACIA for ASEAN Investment Promotion Agencies’ Officials
   • ASEAN Investment Forums on Promoting the ACIA for investors and businesses

Initiatives related to Investment Policymaking

1. Conduct of Investment Policy Reviews for interested AMS.
2. Publication of the ASEAN Investment Reports (AIR), which is an annual public report that provides up to date information to stakeholders with a specific investment theme each year.
3. ASEAN Investment Surveillance Reports (AISR), which is an annual internal surveillance report of the ASEAN Secretary-General to the AIA Council that provides for assessment and strategic recommendations on specific investment issues.

Developments

Investment liberalisation is a continuous effort by AMSs through amendment of the ACIA Reservation Lists (RLs) and/or reforms and various initiatives to improve investment environment and ease of doing business in each AMS.   Since the ACIA’s entry into force, improvements were also made to the Agreement to ensure its relevance. Improvements to the agreement include:  

1. First Protocol to Amend the ACIA provided for the mechanism to amend/modify the ACIA RLs;
2. Second Protocol to Amend the ACIA revised the definition of “natural person” in the Agreement and addressed the issue of treatment of permanent residents;
3. Third Protocol to Amend the ACIA deleted the paragraph on the application of Thailand’s Foreign Business Act in the ACIA Headnote; and
4. Fourth Protocol to Amend the ACIA provided for additional commitments on performance requirements.