COTAC has been active in trying to implement the New Initiatives endorsed by the Third Meeting of the ASEAN Heads of Government. During the year under review, cooperation in shipping has made a satisfactory progress. Various measures are also taken to strengthen ASEAN cooperation in postal services and telecommunications. COTAC is now seriously studying the possibility of implementing the ASEAN Transportation Network Project.

Shipping and Ports

The 12th Meeting of the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Shipping and Ports was held in Manila on 18-20 May 1989. The Meeting among others, noted the following developments in COTAC's New Initiatives in shipping.

i) Broker Telegraph System (BTS)

Arrangements will be established between Federation of ASEAN Shipowners Association (FASA), Federation of ASEAN Shippers Council (FASC) and a Singapore based company interested in providing a BTS type of service some time this year. FASA will speed up this procedure at its next Executive Committee Meeting in Manila.

ii) Inter-ASEAN Bulk Pool System

FASA would pursue the implementation of Bulk Pooling, when shippers organizations and Freight Booking Centres in ASEAN are ready to negotiate and give their long term commitment to provide sufficient base loads for dedicated sailings to be provided by ASEAN lines.

iii) Point-to-point Shipping Services

The Philippine Government has initiated one such service between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam. In this connection, the Meeting agreed to recommend to COTAC to urge the private sector to be more forthcoming in initiating such services in the region.

iv) Freight Booking and Cargo Consolidation Centres

The Meeting noted that all countries have established Freight Booking and Cargo Consolidation Centres except Thailand which is in the process of establishing its centre.

v) Establishment of Centres of Excellence in Shipping and Ports

The Meeting agreed that the COTAC Secretariat would provide further information on this matter for member countries' consideration.

Post and Telecommunications

The Sub-Committee on Post and Telecommunications held its 12th Meeting on 23-25 August 1988 in Jakarta. With regard to postal services, the following are some of the progress reported in enhancing ASEAN cooperation in postal services:

1. Inter-country Remittance Services had been further developed by the introduction of money order services and telegraphic money order services by member countries;
   
   
2. Three Philatelic Exhibitions (ASEANPEX) were held in Malaysia (March 1985) Singapore (March 1986) and Thailand (October 1988). The 4th ASEANPEX will be held in 1990 in Brunei Darussalam;
   
   
3. All ASEAN countries issued ASEAN Commemorative Stamps marking the 20th Anniversary of ASEAN. The next issue of the ASEAN Commemorative Stamps will be on the 25th anniversary of ASEAN in 1992.
   
   
4. All member countries agreed to continue using ASEAN logo on all or some of the aerogrammes that they issue for an indefinite period;
   
   
5. All member countries had conducted the Letter Writing Competition for Young People in 1988. The Meeting also agreed with a proposal that each member country published the first winning letters of other ASEAN member countries in addition to their own. Such publications are expected to create better understanding between the young people of each member country and those of the other member countries and create the feelings of solidarity and oneness in their ASEAN part of the world;
   
   
6. Some member countries had implemented the Programme for Exchange of Postal Officials to promote good relations among postal officials of member countries;
   
   
7. The installation of Letter Sorting Machines is in various stages of implementations. Malaysia had installed the automatic letter sorting machines while Indonesia is in the process of implementing it. The Philippines has submitted the feasibility study for the purchase of letter sorting machine to NEDA and OECF for funding under the 10th Yen. While Thailand is in the process of studying the type of machines to be installed.
   
   

With regard to telecommunications, the following progress was :

1. The name of the ASEAN Pacific Optical Fibre Submarine Cable Network project has been changed to ASEAN Optical Fibre Submarine Cable Network (AOFSCN), and the requirement of the Malaysia-Philippines-Thailand (M-P-T) cable system has been incorporated in the proposed AOFSCN. The draft MOU on the construction on of the AOFSCN was agreed upon by all member countries except Thailand which is seeking cabinet approval. Indonesia was assigned with the task of coordinating and monitoring the progress of the MOU;
   
   
2. On Satellite Communications Development, the Meeting agreed that for future ASEAN cooperation, possibilities in the extended use of regional satellite could be explored, such as its ownership, operations and utilization;
   
   
3. The Meeting endorsed the draft MOU and Plan of Operations (POP) of the Canada-ASEAN cooperation in the 12 GHz Programme on Earth Path and designated POSTEL as the ASEAN Executing Agency (AEA), with Thailand representing AEA for the signing of the POP as well as coordinating and supervising the project. The, Meeting also agreed to change the title of the project to the "Canada - ASEAN Cooperation in the Ku-Band Propagation Measurement Programme on Earth Space Path"
   
   

ASEAN Transportation Network Project

In responding to a call for a more active role by international financial organizations to assist COTAC in identifying, formulating, financing and implementing projects, the World Bank despatched a consultant to ASEAN countries in January and February 1989 for a three week mission to have discussions and to assess potential projects for possible assistance. Particular focus was given to the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Transport Network Project which called for the strengthening of the existing modes of transportation and the establishment of the new road, rail, sea, ferry and air links. The consultant has fulfilled his task by submitting a report containing his findings and recommendations to the Chairman of COTAC within six weeks after completing his missions for onward transmission to member countries. The implementation of multimodal transport project and projects related to multimodal transport are expected to be given priority by the World Bank in its assistance programme towards the realization of the ASEAN Transportation Network.

For more information, please refer to the Table 1 and Table 2