Research | Asia SEED

(Post 3/4 about entrepreneurship support programs in Cambodia)

–Projects in Cambodia

• Development of the education program to foster the entrepreneur facilitator in Cambodia (2009) - Cambodia International Education Support Fund
• Study on project for strengthening industrial infrastructure in Asia: Support program for traditional industry in Cambodia (2004-2005) - Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan
• Study on project for strengthening industrial infrastructure in Asia : Support program for traditional industry in Cambodia (2004-2005) - Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan

–History
Asia SEED is the successor to the Japan-Indonesia Science and Technology Forum (JIF, established in 1984), which has been devoted to science and technology exchanges between Japan and Indonesia. JIF was founded as an executive office of a non-profit forum.

Later JIF's activities to help foster human resources of developing countries expanded to Southeast Asia region-wide. Qualitative changes were noted as well. Today, JIF gets involved more universal projects that foster competent human resources. Good examples are the preparatory education and twining program, both given locally in order to enrich the value of university education. JIF also offers in developing countries various projects to upgrade human and physical resources at universities and research institutes. In short, JIF is activities have outgrown the initial scope specified upon its foundation.

For these reasons, Asia SEED was created to take over from JIF its human resources development projects, and then to broaden the projects to cover Asia regionwide aiming at human resource development throughout the Asian nations.

In 1999 the newly created Asia SEED was certified as a registered non-profit organization by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government under the Law for the Promotion of Non-Profit Organization (NPO Act).

–Aims

1. looking for cooperative themes for the wide range development of economic society through scientific technology and reinforcement of education in Asian nations with the spirit of international cooperation,
2. contributing to promote exchange between Japan and Asian nations in the fields of education, science, culture, economy and industry by collaboration both governments and business worlds, and
3. sustaining and developing healthy relationships in the Asian region.

–Financing
Scale of activities by Asia SEED is around 200 million yen in recent years. Main financial resources are from consulting fees from the projects budgets (loans from the Japanese government to the developing countries) coming from governmental institutions of each country or consignment fees from the Japanese government or government related institutions. Other than these, recently consignment fees from private sectors and universities are increasing.

As for 2008, approximately 60% is consulting fee from foreign governments and government offices, 10% is consignment fee from the Japanese government related offices, 13% is consignment fee from universities and the remaining 14% is consignment fee from private sectors.

–Main related organizations
Central Government, such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aid Agency like JICA. University, Local government, Public-interest corporation, Private enterprise, International Organization, Foreign Government, and so on.

–Reference
www.asiaseed.org