Improving sea, land, and air connectivity
Expanding the RO-RO network
The benefits of a connected, integrated Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are evident to many. But connectivity in Maritime Southeast Asia remains a serious challenge. Thousands of scattered, small, and isolated islands face enormous barriers, such as high transport costs and poor access to local and regional markets that hamper trade and tourism. In late 2009, USAID and The Asia Foundation began a three-year project, Economic Growth Hubs, to improve sea, land, and air connectivity. In sea transport, the goal is to further expand the Roll-on, Roll-off (RO-RO) network among Philippine islands and to the broader region to decentralize trade flows, improve efficiency, and lower transport costs. Over the past year, the project helped support the inclusion of RO-RO as one of 15 flagship projects approved at the October 2010 ASEAN Leaders Summit. In 2011, the Research Education and Institutional Development (REID) Foundation, with support from The Asia Foundation and USAID, will conduct an in-depth study to identify the commercial, financial, policy, and regulatory steps to establish a regional RO-RO network.
Built on Dreams, Grounded in Reality: Economic Policy Reform in the Philippines
On November 21 in Manila, The Asia Foundation released the groundbreaking book, Built on Dreams, Grounded in Reality: Economic Policy Reform in the Philippines. Authored by leading economic and development experts, the book illuminates the country's greatest successes and challenges in reforms, including introducing competition and liberalization in sea transport, civil aviation, and telecommunications; instituting the privatization of water service in Metro Manila; and more.