Asean Transport Deals Inked
By Shareen Han

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei's air freight services and tourism sector received a boost after three transport agreements were signed to create a liberal business environment with reduced costs and better commercial dealings in the Asean region.

According to a press statement from the Ministry of Communications, one of the agreements would facilitate unhindered movement of goods and vehicles on designated highway routes in the region.

The signing ceremony, which took place during the 12th Asean Transport Ministers (ATM) Meeting in Thailand, saw the ministers endorsing the designation of Transit Transport Routes and Facilities of the Asean Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Goods in Transit, one of the two protocols.

Another protocol was to implement the Fifth Package of Commitments on Air Transport Services under the Asean Framework Agreement on Services.

The fifth package for air transport services involves partnership in agreed subsectors and new subsectors, including the leasing of aircraft with and without crew and air freight forwarding services.

In addition, Aseaxi senior transport officials/Asean directors-general of civil aviation signed the first implementation step in liberalising air freight services, or protocol to amend the 2002 Asean Memorandum of Understanding on Air Freight Services.

Brunei's Communications Minister, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong, and his Asean counterparts, have also reaffirmed their commitment to establishing the Asean Economic Community to accelerate regional cooperation for an efficient, secure and integrated transport system.

The Asean Economic Community would promote multimodal transport infrastructure linkages and connectivity in,, facilitating transport and tour ism integration, expanding liberalisation opportunities hi air and maritime transport sectors and in realising a single air transport market in Asean by 2015.

The ministers have also adopted the Asean-Japan Ministerial Declaration of Transport Security in the 4th ATM + Japan meeting to develop cooperation in enhancing national 1ransport security on February 9.

General Surayud Chulanont, Prime Minister of Thailand, underscored the importance of an effective transportation system in achieving the Asean Community, during his opening address at the meeting on February 8.

Prior to the ministers' meeting, Dato Paduka Hj Md Yusof Hj Md Hassan, permanent secretary and other senior officials from the Ministry of Communications attended the 22nd Senior Transport Officials Meeting from February 5 to 7.

The next Asean Transportation Ministers Meeting is scheduled in October or November in Singapore. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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