Deputy Minister Attends Asean Transport Meeting
By M K Anwar

Bandar Seri Begawan - Transport ministers from the Asean member countries attended the 11th Asean Transportation Ministers (ATM) Meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR from 17th to 18th November, a press release stated.

The Brunei delegation at the meeting was led by the Deputy Minister of Communication, Dato Paduka Hj Yusoff Hj Abd Hamid.

The ATM Meeting deliberated on the implementation progress of the transport initiatives under the Vientiane, Action Programme (VAP) 2004-2010-and the policy measures to accelerate the integration of the transport sector as well as promoting transport security in the Asean region.

The development of these initiatives is vital towards the realisation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) by taking account of the Asean Free Trade Area and various framework arrangements within the region and transportation issues as a critical supporting sector for seamless movement of people and goods.

The Transport Ministers also signed the Asean Framework Agreement on Multi-modal Transport. The agreement lays down the rules and procedures relating to the carriage of goods ofAsean freight forwarders and multi modal transport operators in the region.

Brunei like other Asean members will benefit positively from the development, as it will provide a good platform of doing business with reduced cost and at the same time enhancing safety and better business dealings for all stakeholders.

The agreement is another milestone in the progress towards the implementation of the transport initiatives under the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) 2004-2010.

The ATM Meeting among others has endorsed initiatives that include the acceleration of the Air Travel Sector that could give a greater impact on the Asean economic integration initiatives. This has included the fifth Package of Commitment on Air Transport Services by next year.

The meeting also endorsed the initiatives for the partnership with Asean dialogue partners and international organisation which had produced tangible results and significant progress through the collaborative effort to develop a dynamic, secure and safe Asean transport industry.

The ATM Meeting was preceded by the 20th Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM). The Brunei delegation at that meeting was led by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communication, Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yusof bin Hj Md Hassan as well as senior officials from the Ministry and relevant departments under it.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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