Joe Pietrus, Project Director and Agribusiness Specialist
Paul Guenette, Deputy Project Director/Trade and Investment Specialist
John Bowman, Phytosanitary Expert
Ken Swanberg, Agricultural Economist

   The purpose of the Asia Regional Agribusiness Project (RAP) was to increase and continue the effectiveness of USAID mission agribusiness projects and programs in promoting market efficiency and trade and investment in an environmentally sustainable manner. RAP provided a mechanism for coordinating mission, bureau, and other USAID and U.S. private sector and government agribusiness development efforts in Asia. RAP assistance was used primarily in improving private sector agribusiness performance and participation in Asia, particularly as they relate to the development of joint ventures with U.S. agribusiness.RAP activities included:
1) improving regional market transparency,
2) creating a better understanding of regional market support infrastructure,
3) defining product quality standards for market entry;
4) identifying solutions to agribusiness development environmental concerns;
5) serving as a regional liaison with the U.S. private sector;
6) incorporating gender concerns into mission agribusiness efforts;
and
7) addressing key regional agribusiness development issues that transcend individual country programs.

   EI led a multi-firm consortium in this project. RAP provided the following services: 1) a clearinghouse with the essential data and information needed for developing exports; 2) facilitation of investment/joint venture linkages with overseas expertise; and 3) analytical studies geared toward policy reform, trade barriers, and monitoring and evaluation systems. The RAP on-line clearinghouse was accessible by USAID missions and agribusiness projects and provides relevant agribusiness information. RAP offered technical and analytical support on project and strategic objectives monitoring, evaluation systems, and privatization methods. Our RAP World Wide Website allowed for on-line electronic access to market information. RAP market information included: (1) a bi-monthly publication Market Asia, a newsletter for the horticulture industry;(2) 12 Market Information Bulletins covering Asian products and markets in Asia, the Middle East, and North America; and (3) a series of Postharvest Information Bulletins.RAP also undertook special studies for non-traditional exports, a four-country survey of cocao infestation issues, an analysis of food safety issues affecting Asian imports (i.e., Japan) from RAP countries, special economic analysis of the GATT Uraguay Round impacts on RAP food exports and imports, market studies on individual commodities being supported by other USAID agribusiness projects, and linkage activities matching Asian investment opportunities with potential U.S. partners.

Technical Assistance and Advisory Services

Agriculture & Rural Development Sector: Tropical