Che Thuy Nhu

Date : 27 juin 2010, 04:46

Dear Mr Supachai Panitchpakdi and parrticipants in the Forum
Now Vietnam development can't isolated from regional development
I put here one case for disscussion :


Yesterday I saw ADB website –Video about Regional tourism in 6 countries of Mekong region.
I see the data in 2015 ,I hope that it will take benefits to people.
This case happens in Danang Vietnam with biggest CASINO in Vietnam.
I think here are problems of law, culture, education and management in macro-level.
You please let me put it in yours topic.
Because Thailand is near Vietnam. Thailand is in Mekong region .Thailand has good tourism’s services.
I do not advice put tourism’s investment to Vietnam

ABOUT TOURISM

My father was Chairman of Danang city in 1950 th year
He had dream about development of city .He work hard for developmentof Danang.
I remember: after war 1979 I came from USSR. They discussed about Danang development strategies
My father told with strategies team in Danang about development.
They discuses about agricultural development, Industrial development and Tourism….
My father support Industrial development and Sea ports for regions.
Other opinions about tourism: they talk about Gambling and call –girls (like in Thailand with registration system and medical services) –How solve it in socialist system.
And to day I see how it difficult?
I was in biggest CASINO in Malaysia .
I hear about CASINO in Kampuchea.
I was in Gambling Center in China.
I know about real situation I know this is high ricks activities
I do not advice investors put money more to tourism’s services?

HERE IS INFORMATION FROM NEWSPAPER TO DAY

Pri- minister Nguyen Tan Dung requests “temporary" STOP same activities in Biggest CASINO in Vietnam

In Decision 4375/VPCP –QHQT, Pri-minister Nguyen Tan Dung request people committee Danang STOP Silver Shore Hoang Dat temporary STOP the activities related to GAME ( CASINO ) for foreigners, until they meet the trade conditions of Ministry of Planning and Investment

In this document 4375 Pri-minister request Ministry of Finance, Police, Social –Invalid –Cultural and Sport ,Ministry of Foreign Affair in collaboration with People committee solve the activities of Hoang Dat Company

In 2 days 20-21 /4 the Investigated team of MPI , MOLISA , Pri-minister Office find the mistakes of CASINO .Date 17/5 Ministry of Planning and Investment have submission Number 101/BKH –DTNN report about the mistakes of this company.

Date 4/6 Chairman of Danang city Tran Van Minh have submission number 3308 to Pri-minister about activities of Silver Shore Hoang dat have 147 foreigners ( 141 china man) for not have labor –Permission .

In the permission have 8 table for games .But they organize 10 tables .

Chairman Danang city request Government allow them stay in Danang until July /2010 “for technology transfer “After this time they have to have Labor Permissions
Cong Binh
S & T by Che Thuy Nhu

My comment :
Many Ministrires in government intervent to one FDI company – Focal point is MPI
It can’t live .
Please came and visit the Huu nghi Hotel in 23 Quan thanh Hanoi -Vietnam– It very near Ministry of Planning and Investment ( MPI ) .In many year the problem of company is not solve
Enterprises law, Hanoi Planning and Investment department –is manager of this team.
Company can’t live, company can’t alive.
Up to now: no body can answer about this trouble: HOTEL HUU NGHI DIED
Thank you for attention and support

Che Thuy Nhu

Date : 12 avril 2010, 10:59

Dear Mr Supachia Panidichpakdi
Every days I read in newspaper that some goods from China to Vietnam are illegal and under standars ( SPS ) . It badly impact to health of our citizens .
Fruits , meat, toys,milks are under SPS requirement .
They buy from Vietnam illegal coals and other things like roots of the tree or plants or sea plants.
Poor Vietnamese people , because of money they destroy environment .
To buy roost of the tree, they kill the tree .
They buy illegal wood with high price, people cut tree even in BIG PARK or strrets of Hanoi
To buy sea plant -they kill normal life for fishs , shrimps ...
They arrested seaman and SHIPS in our sea .
We know that the china citizenz in grass roots levels do it !
Any way we needs support to formulate the rules in region .
Thank you

Le Thi Phuong Dung

Date : 04 avril 2010, 17:03

First of all, I would like to thank Dr. Panitchpakdi for your thorough comments regarding the issue of “regionalism for development” and your provision of more “food for thought” with interesting findings of UNCTAD’s report on regional cooperation between the North-South and South-South.
The reality of the “spaghetti bowl” of European Union’s free trade agreements seems to serve an appropriate example for these findings. Once mentioning about the EU’s trade pyramid system, on agenda should be the EU as the champion of negotiating and concluding trade deals, but also the “expectation-reality” gaps in those trade deals, between the EU and developing countries. These countries (so far including South Africa, Mexico, Chile, some Euromed countries, etc) entered into these trade deals with high expectations for a more open and secured access to the EU market, higher economic growth and more increasing flow of foreign direct investment. What they receive, however, when these trade deals entered into force, is not an increasing number in terms of growth and trade balance, but in terms of unemployment and trade deficits, as found in the recent reports of World Movement Development.
In addition to the reasons mentioned by Dr. Panitchpakdi in the entry, the gap is also due to the fact that these developing countries are more dependent on developed countries in terms of trade rather than vice versa. While the North tries to seek a more open gate for their exporters, development aspects seems not to be paid much attention in these trade deals. Also, while for developing countries, they see free trade agreement as a more secured commitment to be granted EU’s preferential treatment (instead of autonomous treatment in the case of GSP, EBA), EU consider it an alternative to integrate those issues excluded in the multilateral trade negotiation, i.e. Singapore issues; as well as an escape to its being forced to remove agricultural subsidies.
All in all, with what discussed in the entry, what found out in the UNCTAD’s report, whether regionalism will lead to real development, still remains open to further discussion.

Che Thuy Nhu

Date : 25 novembre 2009, 05:05

Dear participants in FORUM
This new about trade in 6 ASEAN countries .
In Vietnam mass media every day I hear the bilateral agreement between 2 countries .
Why we think the Doha can not reach ? If this process is going bottom -up : country to country and than all members ???
-----------------------------------------

Vinanet 24/11/2009 6 ASEANS countries propose remove import TAX since January 2010
The Secretary committee ASEAN informs that 6 ASEANS countries Brunây, Inđônêxia, Malaixia, Philíppin, Xingapo và Thái Lan, will remove the import TAX to 0% since 1January 2010
General Secretary ASEAN said “ this is a “good chance “ for ASEAN, and this is shows that ASEAN is on the way to free trade and against protectism

From Trade aspect ASEAN ensure develop ATR ( The information points in ASEAN ) ,to supply the new information about tariff, non-tariff barriers for goods .ATR include trade law , custom’s law and the administration steps ,They can assess to Internet

The committee for consultation for trade ASEAN ( ATF-JCC) will monitoring the Trade agreement in ASEAN .Total GDP in ASEAN in 2008 is 1.504 billions USD, 2 time more than 2003 .The trade activity of ASEAN is on the way going up to 1.710 billions US D in 2008, increasing 834 billions VND compare with 2003 .The FDI is 24 billions in 2003 to 60 billions USD in 2008.
Translated by Che Thuy Nhu

Frank

Date : 07 août 2009, 07:48

The last class for the week and our comments are:
1. This system would need a supporting set of institutions to govern and regulate it .
2. It has the potential to develop a region not just a country.
3. A key condition would be diverse range of industries so all parties can reach a net trade surplus position.
4. There is a risk of stagnation but at the same time helps newly industrialising countries establish a foundation. The question is where the initial capital would come from and why would developed countries invest via FDI?
5. The regional agreement would have to be very strong and binding.
6. There would need to be a shifting balance in trade between south/south and south/north.
7. Where would aid for trade fit into this picture?

That's it from all of us! Thank you

The Friday class

Date : 07 août 2009, 06:55

We are the pen-ultimate UNSW class for this week. One of our concerns is whether economic growth through regionalism will in fact result in development, i.e. human development and guarantee more equitable income distribution within countries. What role will multi-nationals play in this scheme? Is it limited to locally owned industry? If so then why would it attract FDI?

Ultimately North-South relationships are necessary. Smooth transition to this is critical however self-sufficiency at a regional level provides a stronger base on which to build these relationships. This of course assumes that industrial development in the south meets competitive benchmarks on a glbal scale.

Regionalism might also conflict with micro-enterprise which has access to and depends on developed country markets.

Have a good weekend!

Bob

Date : 07 août 2009, 02:52

Good moring! Its Friday 7th August and we are yet another class from UNSW! Our thoughts are as follows:
1. How will regional groups avoid the pitfalls of ISI and pursure integration with the global economy?
2. We appreciate the concept but are not sure that it is realistic given the strength of the developed economies and the institutional frameworks such as WTO.
3. As a transition mechanism for development its a good idea provided it does not lead to isolationism . The Indo/Chinese FTA is a good model.
4. However we are confident in the goodwill of the developed world and its willing ness to negotiate!

Thank you!

Tharunka

Date : 06 août 2009, 09:54

Yet another development studies class from UNSW in Australia! We have focused on what would be needed to make this work:
1. Trade agreements need to be biased to LDCs until a trade balance is achieved/restored. A regional approach is a necessary but insufficient condition.
2. Regionalism could create dependency within the group and inhibit openness on other aspects of development.
3. The model requires diversity in industries between countries as noted by an earlier comment.
4. Even better if a regional model can be extended to a satellite set of institutions to interface to the existing multi-lateral institutions such as the WTO provided that they are given a stronger voice.
5. Lesson should also be taken from the EU in relation to single monetary systems or tied markets.

Thank you and good night!

Yuri Matthews

Date : 06 août 2009, 01:59

We are a second group of UNSW Development Studies students (thursday 9.00 am class) . While we see the potential benefits of a regional trade grouping we feel that we should proceed with caution:

a. It clearly may not work in all cases for reasons raised by other commentators such as geographic issues, governance issues, wide range in size of participating economies, may limit ability to comment on other development issues within the group (e.g. ASEAN and human rights in member countries). It could on the other hand diffuse regional conflicts.
b. It takes a narrow view of development however at the same time may allow a region to set own development priorities and take their own path to development if it provides a stronger economic base to do so based on a level playing field.

We also welcome your thoughts!

Joe Alizzi

Date : 05 août 2009, 09:50

This is a group response from a class of development studies students at the University of NSW in Sydney, Australia. We see benefits, risks, but also potential for better relationships long term with developed countries.

Benefits: Better cultural alignment within region, empowers local people economically, control pace of development, protecting infant industry development, stable prices, gives regions agency in international arena and better bargaining power, creates a semi-periphery player (?).

Risks: Continued access to technology from the North, reaction / counter measures from developed nations; limited resources; common geographic challenges(weather, etc.).

Even better if: regional block creates an economic unit to negotiate FTA with North to grow trade with developed countries and further enhance own development, i.e modified formof integration.

We look forward to your thoughts!

Demba

Date : 12 décembre 2008, 05:45

In fact only sound regional cooperation will alleviate the burdens on our fragile economies...

It's yet saddening to realize that most of our head of states aren't following that more than obvious path to development and Freedom of our Nations...

CHE THUY NHU

Date : 09 juillet 2008, 11:21

Vietnam -Lao -Campuchia have many benefits in collaboration under WTO rules .
(07/07/2008-01:30:00 PM)
Government Portal -This morning 7/7 in Hanoi , the seminar of Sub-regional " Sharing the experiences to join to WTO and implementation of WTO agreement by MOFA and Hanns-Seidel - Germany co- organize
The seminar involved the participation of 100 representatives from Government, Enterprises and researchers from 3 countries : Campuchia, Lao,Vietnam with UNDP and WB
In the opening speech , Vice- minister MOFA Dao Viet Trung said that the globanization, the difficulties of World economy in recently years put many problems for countries in formulation of strategies and implementation the globanization in Vietnam , Campuchia and Lao .He said 3 countries have the same level in development , they are members of ASEAN, ASEM, triangle development - east - west corridor) , 3 countries are facing many challenges and chances in the development way .So the Seminar is a chance for representatives sharing the experiences in multilateral trading system , implementation of WTO agreements and support the benefits of 3 countries .
Ph.D Hans Zehetmair. Chairman of Hanns Seidel FUND said that : join to WTO give the countries in regions challenges and chance .Highly evaluate the results of Vietnam economy after joining to WTO ( The GDP 8.5% in 2007 ) PH.D . Zehetmair promise continue support Vietnam through programmes for development competition abilities .
With 3 theme " Globanization and World economy -Tendency and impact to Campuchia, Lao and Vietnam ." experiences in negotiations join to WTO " and " experiences of implementation WTO agreement " The members of Seminar raising the commons problems of 3 countries facing the Globanization, economy integration in the World .
As new members of WTO, the representatives of Campuchia and Vietnam share the experiences in implementation WTO and share the experiences in joining the WTO with Lao in negotiation in trade , International cooperation , support the economic growth and sustainable development in 3 countries


They also study the lessons learn of Industrialization of other countries like South Korea , Malaysia , Taipei , China .
They all agree that 3 countries have natural resources , cheap labor , good place in East - Asia, the societies is safe , the economic growth can be high . 3 countries in Indo-China have a chance to jump , and Involve the FDI and to get benefit from collaboration in WTO .

H??ng Giang

EPicillo

Date : 01 mai 2008, 00:31

I personally think that regionalism does have potential for development. But, right now, I think that a lot of the problems with the proliferation of RTAs and FTAs is their mis-management. The idea of this increasingly complex "spaghetti bowl" of RTAs throughout the developed and developing world shines light on the fact that, at times, it appears that countries are signing RTAs left and right without really taking into account the costs involved and the scope and agenda of the RTAs. In the case of the developing country, this fact is detrimental to growth. I think that observation and management of RTAs need to increase to be a better tool for development. Although Asian production networks have led to significant growth in developing countries, their inherent vulnerabilities to internal and external shocks makes it a questionable choice for development. If management were to increase, and for the trade in these agreements to be more closely monitored, then regionalism may be more fruitful.

I agree with many people that South-South FTAs may be the best approach towards development via regionalism. I think that large economies, and the possible crowding-out effects of North-South RTAs are threatening to developing countries. Regional consolidarity and co-operation through trade within developing areas may have great effects.

Dick Kamuganga

Date : 27 janvier 2008, 22:45

Developing Countries are in a "catch 22" call it a chicken and egg situation if you will! Whether to cooperate amongst themselves (south-south cooperation) or with the north (North-South cooperation) is not a choice they will make. There are basic facts here; i) regionalism seems to be a permanent phenomenon, ii) regionalism whether North-South or South-South confers different advantages as well different challenges in the increasingly globalized world today, iii) whether regional cooperation based on regional preferential trade agreements which forms part of the general debate on the relationship between trade liberalisation-economic growth-poverty reduction, delivers more regional development will continue to be contested for sometime, iv) whether developing countries want it or not, the trade policy space/leverage conferred by Special And Differential Treatment under multilateral trading system is rapidly waning under FTAs i.e. developing countries will continue to lose preferential margins under special and differential treatment as trade is continuously getting liberalised world wide (via MFN liberalisation, unilateral liberalisation-as is largely the case amongst the ASEAN group, or through numerous FTAs between North-North or South-North Or South-South FTAs), so southern countries pursuing special and differential objectives within any trading arrangement may not necessarily be a panacea for them and for long.

UNCTAD`s Trade and Development 2007 (Regional Cooperation For Development) presents very fascinating scenarios as summarized above by Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi's contribution on this blog. First, the overriding recommendation of the report that "developing countries should strengthen regional cooperation with other developing countries, but proceed carefully with regard to North-South bilateral or regional preferential trade agreements" can have far reaching implications as far as continuous marginalisation of these countries in the global trading system is concerned! While it's obvious that developing countries need to strengthen cooperation amongst themselves, they need to be more pragmatic and proactive rather than being retrogressive when it comes to their northern neighbours. Caution and suspicion will not help them prepare to rip the enormous benefits that come with the unstoppable globalisation forces. This implies that;
(i) Developing countries need to prepare for a parallel approach toward "external" and "internal" integration processes not sequencing them, as the pace of global integration forces will not present them with that luxury of sequencing development strategies,
(ii) The global community including the northern rich countries should have a moral responsibility to make efforts toward reducing global poverty, this implies in the bilateral or regional FTAs they sign with their southern counterparts, should ensure that preconditions identified by the report i.e. a certain level of local production capacity, skill and technological sophistication, an array of supporting market institutions and good infrastructure are established in the process of integrating these poor countries,
(iii) It's upon the developing countries to front their development objectives as part of their negotiations agenda package. Otherwise if their development objectives are not fulfilled they would not sign up to the bilateral FTAs. Northern countries have been able to bring on trade negotiations agenda many "trade related" (to some people-trade unrelated) agendas, why not developing countries adopting similar strategy and make developing a capacity to trade a trade related and front it on both multilateral, regional and bilateral cooperation initiatives?
(iv) However, I consider that it will be more difficult for developing countries to technologically catch up under overemphasised South-South cooperation, because it will largely be between technological adopters and not innovators. And its innovators and not adopters that extend the frontiers of technology and hence development forward. Take for instance Sub Saharan Africa, its difficult to envisage the technological spillovers that will emerge from cooperation between Rwanda, Uganda and Ethiopia when all of them deal in exporting one single primary commodity-coffee as opposed to cooperation between Ethiopian coffee firm managers dealing with Starbucks executives when exporting their coffee beans (here am referring to management skills being part of technological learning and not disadvantaged export of coffee beans anyway!!). The point here, is that emphasising technological learning/spillovers from South-South cooperation may delay the technological catch up process, by not only prolonging the lag of adoption and learning but also these countries missing out on making a strong case for achieving technological learning and innovation through international linkages of international trade (largely through the import of capital goods), FDI (through ensuring joint ventures) and licensing (UNCTAD, 2007).

In summary I would argue that rather than overemphasising South-South Cooperation as a the most viable option for fast integrating the poor countries into the global economy, emphasis should be placed on how the two processes of "internal and external integration" can be parallelly achieved, how southern countries can pragmatically and proactively engage their Northern neighbours to deliver conducive environment for technological learning, innovation and catch up opportunities, through the established international linkages of international trade, FDI and licensing and development aid.

International community (including international organisations) need to respond to the immediate needs of developing countries in building national and regional trading capacities, national and regional institutions (that are essential to reducing entry costs of forming regional trading and development cooperation blocks). .
It's up to the South governments now to identify the key strategic areas that will help them integrate with the rest of the world-"it takes two to tango". Its easy and conventional wisdom to keep blaming the north for all marginalisation of the south. But after 60 years of efforts toward global integration, what has the south learned?

Overemphasising south-south cooperation at the expense of strategically engaging the north may further marginalise the south on trade, technology and innovation frontiers as well as financial and capital integration with the rest of the world. Otherwise there is a need to unpackage the "policy space agenda", what new lessons will be used when this policy space is achieved that has not been able to work in the last more than half a century ago?

Che Thuy Nhu

Date : 05 novembre 2007, 11:59

Now in Vietnam the flood after flood in the Central region and in North mountain's areas. The life of grassroots is very hard. The reason may be the destruction of forests in Vietnam, Lao, Campuchia ,Thailand and South China for long time ?
I think the collaboration in Forest's protection between countries in Region is neccesary .
Thank you for your attention .

Alagi B. Gaye

Date : 24 octobre 2007, 18:26

The article is indeed concise and factual. James Teered raised interesting questions, which I have thought about in the past. Looking at the genesis of trading arrangments between the South and the North would shed some light on some of the factors responsible for the status quo, where an insignificant proportion of the South's international trade is amongst countries in the South compared to North-South trade.

Most of the countries in the South, particularly in Africa were colonies of countries, which constitute countries in the North. We are therefore still left with colonial legacies, whereby the economies of colonised countries have been deliberately designed to be appendages or peripheries of the colonisers. Thus colonised economies were structured in terms of infrastructure and superstructure for the production of raw materials to serve the colonial governments. An example in the service industry is telecommunications, where calls from an African country destined to another African country are routed through countries in the North. In Air transport, sometimes travelling from one African country to another one can take over 24 hours because of the lack of direct routes within African countries. Having said that, some countries, particularly in Asia that have been colonised have overcome some of these legacies by adopting practical and relevant development programmes supported by the right political will.

I strongly believe that regional bodies hold great potential to practically and gradually integrate our economies and lead to more South-South trade. However, for that to happen, countries in the South, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which is the only region in the World that has not prospered over the last 25 years, have to do a thorough self-assessment of their performance with a view to changing course in terms of our trading arrangements. There has to be the political will to ensure that regional bodies have the required resources and mandates to ensure more South-South trade, which research by UNCTAD have shown to hold great potential.

folounshor

Date : 24 octobre 2007, 06:13

Regionalization is a concept designed to distract the increasingly impatient african masses from their ultimate goal, i.e. African union. These are a few of the flaws of regionalization:
-It will not resolve trans-African access via road or rail as each region will attempt to develop in isolation,
-regionalization is simply an expansion of the status quo 53 enclaves that Africa is today,
-these regional entities could be played against each other just as it is done today by supreme extra-African powers.
I could go on, but this is just a taste of what I am putting together in a book form these days.
Regionalization is just another delaying tactic, just like the good old OAU was to the generation of my grandfather and father.

Olumide Abimbola

Date : 23 octobre 2007, 22:09

I just read an overview of the UNCTAD report, and I really appreciate the recommendations of the report.

My reaction to the report is inspired by my relative familiarity with regionalization in West Africa. New regionalist scholars have praised different regionalising forces - NGOs, informal transboder traders and other organisations that extend beyond the borders of particular countries - as true integrating forces, but studies close to the ground have shown that they have not been much of that. Informal transborder traders in the region, for instance, play on the differences in the fiscal and monetary policies of the countries to make gains. And even the amount of trade in goods that originates in the region is meager when compared with the volume of non-west African goods which the informal transborder traders trade. It all sounds very impressive in a report, but the actual practice in the regions is way different from what one would expect.

Prof.vidya

Date : 22 octobre 2007, 19:49

The archaic concepts of territoriality and sovereignity have acquired a new meaning in this era of free trade. Using the principle of comparative advantage, every state is learning the intricate methods of strategic management to gain benefit through regional and international cooperation. Regional agreements form an important component of an effective political strategy to accelerate the economic growth of every state.

James Teered

Date : 22 octobre 2007, 15:39

Very interesting material. I am sure we would all like to hear Pascal Lamy comment on your piece. As for me, I simply wonder why South-South FTAs are so few if they really are to bring so many benefits. Are there any entry costs that prevent them from emerging ? Or is there any internal political economy reason for that ?