Prior to the convening of the Third ASEAN Summit in Manila (14 - 15 December 1987) the Committee on Transportation and Communications (COTAC) met twice as Issues Committees VI to finalize proposals on new initiatives in the area of transportation and communications to be submitted to the Summit for endorsement.
The 18th Meeting of COTAC was held in Penang, Malaysia, on 15 - 16 April 1988. Besides reviewing the reports and activities of sub- committees and the progress as well as development of COTAC projects implementation, the Meeting also gave emphasis on the implementation of decisions and recommendations of the Third ASEAN Summit with regard to Transportation and Communications.
To ensure that the initiatives endorsed by the Third ASEAN Summit in Manila are implemented expeditiously, COTAC agreed to adopt the following measures:
a) The sub-committees should play a more active role in translating the initiatives into programmes and specific projects to attain their objectives. The identification of these programmes and projects is to be submitted to COTAC Secretariat for circulation to member countries to obtain their comments and for subsequent follow-up action;
b) The various sub-committees should establish technical working groups to address these initiatives and to prepare project brief;
c) Through the ASEAN Secretariat, to request the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other International Institutions to identify, formulate, finance and implement projects for COTAC.
Recognizing the significance of the private sector's participation in the implementation of the Summit initiatives in transportation and communications, COTAC urged the private sector to play a more active role to complement the endeavours undertaken by the respective ASEAN Governments.
During the 18th COTAC Meeting, the Chairman of the ASEAN - CCI Working Group on Transportation and Communications (ASEAN-CCI WGTAC) reported that a research is being conducted by the ASEAN - CCI WGTAC on Cost Effectiveness of lntra-ASEAN Transportation and Communications. COTAC expressed its appreciation on the ASEAN - CCI WGTAC initiatives and agreed to render all possible assistance to ASEAN - CCI WGTAC to complete the study successfully and requested WGTAC to:
a) submit the final report of the research project for the consideration of COTAC;
b) send a final report of the research direct to the chairmen of the various sub-committees for their consideration;
c) optimise the value of the study by utilising the services of professionals; and
d) include road and rail aspects of transportation in the research project.
In order to expedite the implementation of COTAC projects in the framework of ASEAN cooperation with third countries and international organizations, COTAC agreed on the following guidelines:
a) all sub-committees should establish and supervise a monitoring system that would prepare status reports on a monthly basis;
b) regardless of the efforts of the country coordinator, the recipient country should also take the initiative to ascertain the status of a project through the relevant embassy/organization; and
c) country coordinators be requested to examine the list of on-going COTAC projects with third countries and expand the list in conjunction with the Chairmen of COTAC sub-committees.
Civil Aviation and Related Services
The 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Sub- Committee on Civil Aviation and Related Services (ASCCARS) held on l1-14 April 1988 in Manila, Philippines, discussed four major issues related to:
a) The action taken by ASCCARS on COTAC's new initiatives endorsed by the Third ASEAN Summit;
b) Recommendation regarding the convening of a meeting of ASEAN Airlines;
c) Review of the progress of the Integrated Work, Programme in Civil Aviation and Related Services (IWPCARS) Projects;
d) Review and Evaluation of Past Re. commendations (Non-IWPCARS Projects/Activities).
In full support of the Summit decision to strengthen the existing transportation system through the establishment of ASEAN Road/ Rail/Shipping/Ferry/Air Links to ultimately form the ASEAN transportation network, ASCCARS has identified two on-going projects and activities designed to attain the objectives of the new initiatives:
a) ASEAN Circle Trip and ASEAN Promotional Fares to Promote and Encourage Intra-ASEAN Travel:
b) Establishment of Centres of Excellence - an expansion of existing training courses offered in ASEAN countries to cater to the training needs of ASEAN.
ASCCARS also approved the inclusion of the ASEAN Cargo Transportation Study (ACTS) to be undertaken by SEATAC as a new initiative and further agreed to expand its work programme within the context of the new initiatives and urged member countries to submit new project Proposals to ASCCARS.
ASCCARS also recognized that ASEAN Airlines could supplement and complement the activities being undertaken or to be undertaken by ASCCARS, and therefore it recommended that a meeting of ASEAN Airlines be convened at least once annually.
With regard to the Integrated Work Programme in Civil Aviation and Related Services (IWPCARS) Projects, ASCCARS agreed to continue the implementation of 7 projects in the area of civil aviation and related services.
In the area of Centres of Excellence, in addition to the 4 regional centres already established in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, two more centres are being involved i.e. the Training Centre for Aviation Security in Malaysia and the Training Centre for Conducting Courses in Disabled Aircraft Removal/Recovery Techniques and Airport Emergency Planning in Brunei Darussalam, scheduled to be operational in 1989.
Within the framework of Air Traffic Services (ATS) Coordination Procedures in South China Sea Contingency Arrangements, an under- standing was reached during the ICAO - sponsored informal meeting on 7 - 8 April 1988 in Bangkok which was attended by representatives of the Philippines and Thailand only, on the establishment of new ATS Route B 460 between Manila and Bangkok via Lubang VOR-Marda-Ubon VOR which would replace the existing ATS R-446. The proposed route is expected to be implemented in July 1988.
Regarding non-IWPCARS projects/activities, there are 18 projects/activities undertaken by ASCCARS of which 5 have been completed. There are at present 4 (four) pending projects/activities where inputs are required from the ASEAN Airlines namely:
a) ASEAN Offset Programme in Aerospace Industry;
b) Air Cargo Pooling Arrangement;
c) Developing an Operators Consortium Amongst ASEAN Airlines.
d) Establishment of an ASEAN Airline Company.
Subsequently, the 18th Meeting of ASEAN - COTAC requested the Chairman of ASCCARS to initiate a meeting of ASEAN Airlines to discuss projects and activities requiring inputs from the ASEAN Airlines.
Land Transportation
The 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Sub- Committee on Land Transportation (SCLT) which was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 23 - 25 March 1988 discussed the relevant ASEAN Summit decisions and new initiatives in land transportation.
In support of the ASEAN Summit decisions to strengthen the existing transportation system in the area of land transportation, the Meeting noted that the following activities are presently being undertaken and planned.
On-going projects
a)The Pan Borneo Highway Project which will link Brunei Darussalam with neighbouring states of Malaysia and Indonesia;
b) Ferry links between Penang and Belawan; and
c)Upgrading of roads and checkpoints at the Causeway to facilitate cargo and passenger flow between Malaysia and Singapore.
Project Initiatives
a) Luxury train service from Chiang Mai to Singapore;
b) Facilitation of the flow of perishable goods among Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore by the railway system;
c) Road/ferry links between Bangkok and Medan via Penang.
In addition, ASEAN cooperation in land transportation has also seen a significant achievement. The ASEAN Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licenses Issued by ASEAN Countries which was signed by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Kuala Lumpur on 9 July 1985 has now entered its stage of implementation. All ASEAN countries have ratified the agreement which came into force on 17 March 1988. With the implementation of this Agreement, it is projected that a greater movement of people within the ASEAN region will be facilitated, thereby contributing to the expansion of intra-ASEAN business and tourism.
Posts and Telecommunications
The Eleventh Meeting of the ASEAN Sub- Committee on Posts and Telecommunications held at Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam on 7-9 September 1987 deliberated on efforts to foster closer cooperation and integration of network in communications among ASEAN countries.
Although the Sub-Committee on Posts and Telecommunications did not submit proposals on new initiatives for the ASEAN Summit in Manila, it has formulated activities and follow-up actions with the objective of strengthening and intensifying ASEAN cooperation in the field of Posts and Telecommunications.
Listed hereunder are some of the major activities under Posts and Telecommunications:
a) The establishment of the International Express Mail Service amongst all member countries of ASEAN.
b) Letter Writing Competition for Young People in ASEAN with a common theme "ASEAN-My Hope for the Future" is being organized by ASEAN POSTEL member countries.
c) "ASEANPEX" Philatelic Exhibition to be held in Bangkok in October 1988 during the International Letter Writing Week sponsored by Thailand.
d) The ASEAN Planning Committee on the ASEAN Optical Fibre Submarine Cables has conducted two meetings to consider the configurations including the Philippines-Malaysia-Thailand segment of the ASEAN Pacific Optical Fibre Submarine Cables based on the following criteria:
i) All ASEAN countries to be inter- connected;
ii) Economically viable and at optimal cost;
iii) Technically feasible timeframe of 1990's;
iv) Restoration capability;
v) Provide suitable points of access to other international Submarine Cable Systems, in particular to the Asia-Pacific Optical Fibre Cable System. In this regard, the Planning Committee will submit its recommendations to the next POSTEL Meeting.
e) The draft Memorandum of Under. standing (MOU) and Plan Of Operation (POP) of the Project on Canada - ASEAN Cooperation in the 12GHZ Propagation Measurements Programme on Earth Space Paths are now in the final stage of preparation.
f) On the issuance of commemorative stamps marking the 20th Anniversary of ASEAN, all ASEAN countries have carried out this programme on the following dates:
15 June 1987 Singapore
7 August 1987 Philippines
8 August 1987 Brunei
Darussalam,
Indonesia and
Thailand
14 December 1987 Malaysia
An ASEAN Special Commemorative Stamps issue will be issued on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee (25th Anniversary) of ASEAN in 1992.
Shipping and Ports
The 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Sub- committee on Shipping and Ports was held at Malacca, Malaysia on 29 - 31 March 1988 and deliberated, among others, on the implementation of the Third ASEAN Summit recommendations in shipping and ports.
The Third ASEAN Summit recognized the importance of shipping in ASEAN economic cooperation since 80% of ASEAN trade is reliant on maritime transport. Likewise, it was also recognized that a more efficient and improved ASEAN transportation and communications system would act as catalyst to accelerate ASEAN economic growth and development.
At the 18th COTAC Meeting held in Penang, Malaysia on 15 - 16 April 1988, a Working Group on Shipping was established to discuss the COTAC new initiatives relating to shipping. Besides representatives of ASEAN member countries, representatives of international organisations (ESCAP, IMO and SEATAC) and the private sector (i.e. Federation of ASEAN Shipowners Associations (FASA), Federation of ASEAN Shippers' Councils (FASC) and ASEAN - CCI WGTAC) also attended the meeting of the Working Group.
On the Broker Telegraph system, it was agreed that Chapter V of ESCAP/SEATAC Report on Intra-ASEAN Shipping Study (Volume I - Main Report) would be used as the basis for further deliberation on this matter. Both FASA and FASC will meet to discuss the new initiatives in June and July 1988 respectively and submit their reports to the COTAC Secretariat before the 20th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting in October 1988. FASA and FASC are expected to develop a common stand with regard to these issues.
On Freight Booking and Cargo Consolidation Centres (FBC/CCC), the Working Group discussed the functions and usefulness of shippers' organizations, expressed support for ESCAP project proposal entitled "Development of Maritime Transport User Institutions and Systems" and agreed to a two-tier-approach on FBC/CCC:
a) ESCAP will provide the necessary assistance to Indonesia and Thailand for the establishment of National Freight Booking Centres;
b) The FBC/CCC in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines are to consolidate themselves further, improve their operations and intensify coordination of their activities.
On Inter-ASEAN Bulk Pool System and Point-to-Point Shipping Services, the Working Group discussed the two subjects together as outlined in the ESCAP/SEATAC Report on Intra- ASEAN Shipping Study. FASA and FASC are requested to consider the recommendations containing in the ESCAP/SEATAC Report and to convey their positions to the COTAC Secretariat before the 20th AEM Meeting in October 1988.
On new initiatives in shipping, the Working Group considered the broad COTAC initiatives and recognized the important link between shipping and other modes of transport and further noted the significance of a total approach to shipping in relation to the overall transportation sector. In such a case, multimodal transport issues will assume an even greater importance. In this context, the Working Group recognized the significance of multimodal implications in maritime transport, and agreed to deliberate further at their future meetings.
For more information, please refer to the Table 1 and Table 2
