The Hong Kong – ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comprises a chapter on economic and technical co-operation (ECOTECH) which aims to enhance the benefits of the FTA through capacity building programmes and technical assistance. The ECOTECH Chapter of the FTA is implemented through an ECOTECH Work Programme. Details of the ECOTECH initiative can be accessed at here.
Under the FTA’s ECOTECH Work Programme, the ASEAN Secretariat invites the governments or their implementing agencies of Hong Kong, China and the ASEAN Member States (AMS) to submit proposals for approval of the FTA Joint Committee on an annual basis.
The approved projects covered a wide array of areas including professional services, SMEs co-operation, trade facilitation, intellectual property and e-commerce co-operation. For outcomes of individual projects, please visit here.