THE FIRST OECD - SOUTHEAST ASIA REGIONAL FORUM Peer Review Mechanism for Policy Reform Organised by OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) Hosted by Government of Indonesia In Co-operation with ASEAN Secretariat and Asian Development Bank Hotel Nikko Jakarta, Indonesia 23-24 January 2007 PURPOSE: The peer review mechanism - the assessment of the policies and performances of a country by other countries - constitutes the OECD s traditional method of work. It is a tried and tested instrument to help OECD countries improve their policy making, adopt good practices and generate established standards and principles. This method of international co-operation has become increasingly popular in recent years. The scope of peer review mechanism has expanded rapidly in terms of policy areas reviewed and the number of organisations involved. Given this background, the First OECD-Southeast Asia Regional Forum seeks to draw lessons from multilateral and regional experiences on peer reviews with the objective to provide direction for policy reform and enhanced international cooperation. DRAFT AGENDA Tuesday, 23 January 2007 TIME 09h00-09h30 09h30-10h00 Registration Welcome Address by H.E. Mr. Arizal EFFENDI, Ambassador, Embassy of Indonesia to France and Mr. Kiyo AKASAKA, Deputy Secretary General, OECD Opening Remarks 1. H.E. Mr. BOEDIONO, Co-ordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Indonesia 2. Mr. Masahiro KAWAI, Special Advisor to President, ADB 3. H.E. Mr. ONG Keng Yong, Secretary-General, ASEAN 10h00-11h00 Session I What is the peer review mechanism and how does it work? chaired by Mr. Kiyo AKASAKA, OECD Keynote Speeches 1. Tool for cooperation and change: concept and function of the Peer 1
Review Mechanism by Mr. Nicola BONUCCI, Director, Legal Directorate, OECD 2. Belgium s experience with peer reviews by H.E. Mr. Patrick van HAUTE, Ambassador, Permanent representative of Belgium to the OECD 3. Comparative aspects of Peer Reviews - OECD, other international organizations and the European Union by Mr. Niels THYGESEN, Denmark, Chair of Economic Development Review Committee, OECD 11h00-11h30 11h30-13h00 Coffee break 4. Korea s experience with peer reviews by a speaker :Government of Korea, TBC Lead Discussants 1. Speaker: Government of Singapore, TBD 2. Ms. Margarita R. Songco, National Development Office, Deputy Director General, National Economic and Development Authority, Philippines, TBC 3. Speaker: Mr. Fabrizio PAGANI, Head the Office of the Undersecretary of State, Minister's office - Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy General Discussion 13h00-15h00 15h00-16h00 Lunch hosted by the Government of Indonesia Session II Peer review mechanism - A tool for economic policy reform, chaired by Mr. Masahiro KAWAI, ADB Keynote Speeches 1. Peer review in Economic Development Review Committee (EDRC) by Mr. Val KOROMZAY, Director, Country studies branch, Economics Department, OECD 2. Indonesian Economy- Current Situation and Policy Reform by Mr. Mohamad IKHSAN, Senior Adviser, Co-ordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Indonesia 16h00-16h30 16h30-18h00 Lead Discussants 1. Mr. Porametee VIMOLSIRI, Senior Advisor, National Economic and Social Development Board, Thailand Coffee Break 2. Mr. Dominique BOCQUET, Ministry of Finance, France/ Minister, Delegation of France to the OECD 3. Mr. Ryokichi HIRONO, Emeritus Professor, Seikei University, Japan General Discussion 2
18h00-19h00 19h00 21h00 Break Reception hosted by the OECD Wednesday, 24 January 2007 TIME 10h00 10h15 10h15 11h15 Summary of previous day s meeting Session III What role for a peer review mechanism in fostering regional integration? chaired by Mr. Worapot MANUPIPATPONG, Director, Finance and Surveillance, ASEAN secretariat Keynote Speeches 11h15 11h45 11h45 13h15 13h15-14h30 14h30-16h30 16h30-17h00 1. ASEAN Regional Integration, by a speaker :Government of Malaysia, TBD 2. Australia s experience with peer reviews by Mr. Blair COMLEY, Australian Treasury 3. From the Experience of ADB, by Mr. Masahiro KAWAI, ADB 4. From the Experience of European Economic Integration, by a speaker: EC, Brussels, TBC Coffee Break 5. How Deep Is Regional Interdependence in Southeast Asia?- an overview by Mr. Frederic LANGER and Mr. Kensuke TANAKA, CCNM, OECD Lead discussants 1. Mr. Kiichiro FUKASAKU, Development Centre, OECD 2. Mr. Nguyen Dac Thanh, Deputy Director of the Economic Policy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam, TBC General Discussion Lunch hosted by the OECD Session IV The way forward - Making best use of the peer review mechanism- Public seminar, chaired by Mr. Arizal EFFENDI, Ambassador, Embassy of Indonesia to France Invited panellists: Mr. Kiyo AKASAKA, Mr. Val KOROMZAY, Mr. Nicola BONUCCI, Mr. KAWAI, Mr. WORAPOT, Mr. IKHSAN and invited NGOs (TBD) Press Interview 3
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ANNOTATIONS 1. Session I What is the peer review mechanism and how does it work? (10h00-13h00, 23 January) The first session will provide an introductory overview of the concept and function of peer review and start with a keynote speech based on the updated OECD publication, Peer Review: an OECD tool for co-operation and change (OECD, 2003) (to be distributed to participants). Possible questions in this session include: How does the peer review mechanism work and what makes it effective? How have peer reviews been carried out for OECD Members and non- Members? 2. Session II Peer review mechanism - A tool for economic policy reform (15h00-18h00, 23 January) In this session, the discussion will be centred on how peer reviews can be useful and effective in the area of macroeconomic and structural policies. OECD experiences about peer reviews have proved that this is an effective tool to promote best practices in this policy area. Peer reviews in the OECD Economic and Development Review Committee (EDRC) are usually conducted for each OECD Member every 18 months and are drafted by the Economics Department, followed by discussions, amendments and publications on the responsibility of the EDRC. Throughout the survey, the focus is on what the authorities can do to improve economic performance. The survey concentrates on macroeconomic policies and institutional frameworks which are most important for economic performance. In session 2, after the introduction of the peer review mechanism by the OECD Secretariat, experiences of OECD members and Southeast Asian countries will be discussed. Key topics in this session include: How have peer reviews been carried out? What is the key to their success in the area of macroeconomic and structural policies? How can peer reviews advance policy reform? 3. Session III What role for a peer review mechanism in fostering regional integration? (10h15-13h15, 24 January) Session 3 will continue the discussion of the role of peer review in the area of regional integration. The aim of this session will be to review the current state of and major challenges for regional integration among Southeast Asian countries and discuss the potential contribution of peer reviews. Keynote speeches of this session include, an overview of current state of regional integration, discussing the various experiences from different points of view. In addition to the experience of ADB, this session will cover that of Australia and European countries. Based on comparisons, both lessons learned and major differences will be identified. Questions to consider include: What are the major challenges for economic integration in ASEAN? Do you think that 5
the peer review mechanism can be useful for monitoring and advancing regional economic integration? How relevant is the experience of European countries? 4. Session IV The Way Forward: Making best use of the peer review mechanism Public Seminar (14h30-16h30, 24 January) This session will take the form of a public seminar by inviting civil society to participate. Discussions by various participants will be centred on how to strengthen economic cooperation in Southeast Asia: what major challenges such cooperation faces and how best the region can make use of the peer review mechanism. Some of the keynote speakers will be available to answer questions from the floor. Possible questions in this session include: Do you think additional measures are needed to strengthen co-operation in Southeast Asia? Do you think the peer review mechanism could be put in practice more effectively in the region? What is the role of public opinion, of civil society? Final remarks by the OECD will close this session. 6