I. Introduction

The Singapore Declaration of 1992 and the Framework Agreement on Enhancing ASEAN Economic Cooperation direct that the ASEAN Countries "further enhance regional cooperation to provide safe, efficient and innovative transportation and communications infrastructure network" and "continue to improve and develop the intra-country postal and telecommunications system to provide cost- effective, high-quality and customer-oriented services. "

To help achieve these goals, SEOM- 4/25 convened a working group on transport and communications with the task of determining the priority theme issues, key objectives, and projects and activities for ASEAN cooperation in transport and communications, paying special attention to identifying measures to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of AFTA.

The following are details of the prioritised theme issues, key objectives and projects and activities.

II. Theme Issues
(in order of priority)

1. Development of Multimodal Transport and Trade Facilitation

2. Development of ASEAN Inter- connectivity in Telecommunications, including Fixed and Mobile Voice and Data and EDI Services, for Trade and Business Communications, and to Enhance Land, Sea and Air Transport

3. Harmonisation of Road Transport Laws, Rules and Regulations in ASEAN

4. Improvement of Air Space Management in ASEAN

5. Development of ASEAN Rules and Regulations for Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Industrial Wastes on Land and By Sea

6. Human Resources Development in Transport and Communications

III. Key Objectives and Prioritised Projects and Activities

1. Development of Multimodal Transport and Trade Facilitation

   Purpose:

   To enable door-to-door delivery of goods to customers by maintaining a continuous flow of goods during transfer

   A. Multimodal Transport and Promotion and Operations

   Immediate objective : To reduce the time and cost of marketing and distribution of goods

   A. 1. Continuation of the implementation of the ASEAN Cargo Transport Study (ACTS) Action Plan;

   A.2. Harmonisation of standards and qualifications in the regulation of multimodal transport operator;

   A.3. Formulation of a regional multimodal transport framework agreement;

   A.4. Promotion of the sharing of experience, and develop regional cooperation and harmonisation in the development of multimodal transport.

   B. Transport Facilitation

   Immediate objective : To facilitate movement of international container traffic

   B. 1. Programme to facilitate movement of international container traffic :

   (a) Production and dissemination of primer containing simplified explanations of international conventions which facilitate multimodal transport;

   (b) Progressive implementation and/or adoption of international conventions; and

   (c) Monitor programme implementation status.

2. Development of ASEAN inter- connectivity in telecommunications, including fixed and mobile voice and data and EDI services, for trade and business communications, and to enhance land, sea and air transport

   Purpose :

   To ensure interconnectivity and harmonisation of telecommunications services between the ASEAN countries and between the ASEAN countries and the global network.

   2.1 Development of ASEAN EDI Service;

   2.2 Development of ASEAN ISDN;

   2.3 Development of ASEAN Mobile Networks;

   2.4 Development of ASEAN Aeronautical Terrestial Communications System.

3. Harmonisation of road transport laws, rules and regulations in ASEAN

   Purpose:

   To facilitate movement on land across borders.

   3.1 Harmonisation Construction Worthiness, Standards. of goods and vehicles of Motor Vehicle and Use, Road and Traffic Safety

4. Improvement of air management in ASEAN

   Purpose :

   To increase the efficiency of air space utilisation.

   4.1. ICAO - CNS/ATM System and its Application in ASEAN;

   4.2 Implementation of 1,000 ft. Vertical separation Minimum Above FL 290.

5. Development of ASEAN rules and regulations for carriage of dangerous goods and industrial wastes on land and by sea

   Purpose :

   To ensure safe carriege of dangerous goods and industrial wastes and to avoid spillage of industrial wastes on land and at sea.

   5.1 Model Contingency/Response Plan to Hazardous Cargo Emergencies in Land Transport;

   5.2 ASEAN Response to Chemical Spills; and

   5.3 Harmonisation of Maritime Instruments on Port State Control Procedures in ASEAN.

6. Human Resources development in transport and communications

   Purpose:

   To increase operational efficiency and capacity utilisation in transport and communications.

   6.1 Intensify cooperation among transport and communications training centres in ASEAN.

IV. Implementation

Projects are distinguished from activities. A project is an undertaking that requires third party financial support for its implementation. An activity is an inter-governmental undertaking that requires no third-party financial support for its implementation.

The following table shows the mechanism towards the implementation of projects/activities.