THE SASAKAWA PEACE FOUNDATION

Toward Strengthened Regional Cooperation in Asia/Phase II

20,300,000 yen (Self-operated/Grant project)
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RISDC, India)

Concepts of the Asian Economic Community have been recognized by many intellectuals and policy planners. However, the roles of India in the development of Asian Economic Community have not generally been recognized by societies in Japan, China, and other ASEAN countries. The positive engagement of all stakeholders is essential to promote the effective development of systems aiming toward the realization of the Asian Economic Community. Based on the results of the previous project, the current project aims to promote the development of specific polices and systems toward the realization of the Asian Economic Community by strengthening regional collaboration through the cooperation of political circles, industry, and media.

Activities of the first year will be as follows.

Advising activities (Self-operated and commissioned project)
A senior economist of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Mr. Rajiv Kumar will act as an advisor to offer advice on the following matters.
(1) Roles of Japan and India in the regional cooperation of South India
(2) Roles of Japan and India in economic interchange with Iran and the Middle East
(3) Re-consideration of Japanese policies toward India and China
Research (Grant project for RISDC)
RISDC will study possible policies and strategies toward the realization of the Asian Economic Community in collaboration with political circles, economic groups, and media, and transmit the results of the study.

(First year of a 3-year project)