From trade facilitation to structural reform, the DAI/Nathan Group will provide a wide range of technical assistance and training to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, one of the world’s premiere organizations promoting regional economic integration, trade, and investment. USAID awarded the $17 million contract for the APEC Technical and Training Facility (TATF) to the DAI/Nathan group, a joint venture of Nathan Associates and DAI, on September 19. Nathan will lead the four-year project, which will begin mobilizing on October 1, 2008.

Reaching Policy Goals In supporting APEC, the DAI/Nathan Group will strengthen the operations of the APEC Secretariat and assist APEC in achieving ambitious policy objectives, especially for economic growth and integration. Activities will involve:

• Trade facilitation—customs, standards and conformance, electronic commerce, business mobility
•  Investment facilitation
  
• Structural reform—competition policy, regulatory reform, public sector management, corporate governance, and economic and legal infrastructure.

TATF will also study the foundations of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, assist with financial market reforms, and undertake projects in energy and environment, human resource development, regional security, transparency, and intellectual property rights.  

The facility will be located near the APEC Secretariat so project staff can build the capacity of Secretariat staff to design, implement, and evaluate activities on a daily basis. The project will work closely with the Secretariat’s project management and policy support units as well as with its public relations and IT sections, and may support efforts to further cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat.