INTERNSHIP REPORT

UNDP Tumen Secretariat in Beijing, China

 

By Suhee Yu

Dual Masters Degree Candidate
 M.A. in Media, Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Duration & Location

It was my great honor and pleasure to have the opportunity to work in UNDP Tumen Secretariat as an intern from May 3^rd, 2009 to July 31^st, 2009 in Beijing, China.

 

Trade & Investment sector

I took part of Trade & Investment sector, providing an intergovernmental cooperation mechanism in North-East Asia, with a membership of five countries: People’s Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea, Mongolia and Russian Federation. The five GTI member countries have agreed on the strategic objectives of the investment to create a growth pole for development in the area around the Tumen River and become an attractive region for investment. I have been mainly responsible for the implementation of GTI trade & Investment sector projects.

 

Main Tasks

1.     Research activity

1.1  . Economic Research of the Northeast Asia Region (May - June, 2009)

I contributed to research the Economic Research of the Northeast Asia region under the guidance of Mrs. Nataliya Yacheistova. PhD (Director). To provide better understanding and give profound information about the Trade/Investment environment in the Northeast Asia region, I prepared Economic Research examining Northeast Asia Economic outlook and Trade/Investment policy   Country outlook of each GTI member country and Japan, as well as giving updated information about regional challenges/ potential opportunities and economy forecasting. In order to highlight the importance of regional economic cooperation, I made an effort to emphasize the potential possibility of the Northeast Asia has, and required to improve the current trade/investment environment to attract more investment and accomplish easy market access from within and outside the region, so that GTI region can strengthen the economic conditions ultimately. In addition, I stressed the importance of mutual partnership and collaboration, as the Northeast Asian countries are highly dependent on trade, and parallel to the world economy. Moreover, I stressed the integration of the Northeast Asia is underlined to increase economic and political cooperation, which have proven to be a unique opportunity for this region. I concluded the research that intraregional trade system and investment structure should be considered among the regional nations to promote sustainable economic development and establish regional peace; economic integration in Northeast Asia region is an opportunity at the critical moment. This research was published and circulated for internal and external use in June.

2.     Institutional Building

2.1.Establishment of the Expert Group on Investment (April   June, 2009)

At the 10^th meeting of the Consultative Commission and the 2^nd GTI Investment Forum held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (March 2009), the member countries of GTI agreed to establish the Expert Group concerning Investment systems in GTI region. Through the close joint study and further researches about investment environment of each country, GTI member countries can examine the present condition of investment, and indicate the future direction for the mutual prosperity of member countries.

I coordinated the follow ups with each national coordinator from the member countries to establish the Expert Group in order to study and compare legislations and regulations concerning investment of each member country and produce recommendations to improve investment conditions.

 

2.2. Establishment of the Trade Facilitation Committee (April   June, 2009)

At the 10th meeting of the Consultative Commission held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (March 2009), the member countries of GTI and UNDP, they agreed to establish the Trade Facilitation Committee (TFC) with the purposes of technical procedural facilitation of regional trade among the GTI countries. TFC shall serve as an advisory committee to governments of the GTI member countries and the Consultative Commission in the sphere of the interregional trade activities, so that the GTI countries enable to improve and facilitate trade grey-barriers effectively. TFC shall be established to contribute to the trade facilitation and removing grey-barriers within the GTI countries in order to increase competitiveness and reduce risks through betterment of the current trade environment.

I prepared the documents including Terms of Reference (TOR), and did research about the trade/investment condition in each country.

 

3.     Preparation of Forum

3.1.         The 5^th Northeast Asia Economic Cooperation Forum and Expo (June 2009)

The 5^th Northeast Asia Economic Cooperation Forum and Expo will be held on September 1^st, 2009 in Jilin Province, China. The 5th Northeast Asia Economic Cooperation Forum is co-sponsored by the Northeast Asia Expo Organizing Committee, UNIDO, UNDP and UNWTO. The forum is a practical implementation of the Prime Minister of China, Wen Jiabao’s proposal at the ASEAN + China, Japan, ROK (10+3) Summit: To enlarge the regional cooperation in Northeast Asia area; to speed up the revitalization of old industrial bases in the Northeast China. Up to now, the forum has been successfully held four times during the past four years. As a platform for high-level communication, the forum aims to establish a long-term stable cooperative mechanism in the northeast Asia area, and to reinforce and deepen the economic cooperation and communication among countries within the region, which are significant to guarantee regional security and finally accomplish the establishment of a prosperous northeast Asia in a harmonious picture.

I prepared the invitation of participants/ guests and related documents/ materials and organized programs accordingly. And I helped to coordinate the efforts made to research, identify, contact and communicate with the potential participants of the forums from the five member countries and around the world. In particular my perseverance, organization, patience and ability to communicate clearly and effectively played a role in the preparation of the forum and in gathering more information for the secretariat’s further reference.

 

Lesson

The most valuable lesson was the fact that I could learn the UN system and the atmosphere how people work and harmonize in an international organization. Besides, I could have good experiences to be very instrumental in liaising with the member governments and related organizations in organizing activities for the implementation of the approved work plans and projects. In particular, research tasks were helpful to raise the skills and broaden perspectives, so that I could examine the complex phenomenon of the globalized world, and participate in the contribution to the growth of new international systems and institutional frameworks, which can promote the dynamics and create the international cooperation aligning with MDGs on a global and collective level.

 

Through my enthusiasm, ability to learn and willingness to accept responsibility, the tasks I have taken were accomplished efficiently and effectively. Throughout my Internship at the UNDP Tumen Secretariat, I think I had proved myself to be a very hard-working, talented, reliable and motivated employee.

 

Thank you.