| Achong Tanjong |
DELEGATES from Asean member states, the Asean Secretariat, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) of Japan, the Asean Regional Integration Support by the EU (ARISE) as Asean Dialogue Partner and transport associations, namely the Asean Federation of Forwarders Association (AFFA) and the Asean Trucking Federation (ATF) are attending the three-day 35th Asean Transport Facilitation Working Group (TFWG) Meeting hosted by Brunei Darussalam through the Land Transport Department, Ministry of Communications.
The meeting is held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas from April 3-5.
In his welcoming remarks at the opening of the meeting yesterday, the Chairman of the 35th Asean TFWG Meeting and Acting Director of the Land Transport Department Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, said, “Asean TFWG has reached another important milestone last year with the signing of the Asean Framework Agreement on Cross-Border Transport of Passengers by Road Vehicles (CBTP) by the 22nd Asean Transport Ministers Meeting held in Singapore.
“To continue this progress, it is now important for us to take serious action to ratify the agreement and also to work on its implementation guidelines for the smooth operation of cross-border road transport of passengers in Asean. This will be one of the main agenda that will be deliberated in this meeting.
“Another agenda which needs our continuous commitment is the implementation of the other Asean transport facilitation framework agreements and its implementing protocols, namely the Asean Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Goods in Transit (AFAFGIT), the Asean Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Inter-State Transport (AFAFIST) and the Asean Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport (AFAMT).
“We look forward to positive updates from the Asean member states on the progress of ratification and implementation of these agreements,” he said.
“We also look forward to hear about the progress and updates on the implementation of the pilot testing of the Asean Customs Transit System (ACTS). I would like the meeting to support the ACTS roll-out implementation in the North-South Corridor (Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand) and East-West Corridor (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand). I also request the transport officials to closely cooperate with their Customs officials to enhance preparations for the timely implementation of the ACTS pilot roll-out in North-South and East West Corridors,” he said.
On behalf of TFWG, he expressed appreciation on the continuous support by the Dialogues Partners such as Japan and the Asean Regional Integration Support by the EU (ARISE) as well as the involvement and contributions from transport associations, namely AFFA and ATF.
“We look forward to hear the progress of the ongoing programmes and new proposals and I strongly encourage the TFWG to continue to support and cooperate with our partners, leveraging on their expertise and knowledge for our mutual benefits.
“Brunei Darussalam is honoured to host and chair this important meeting as well as the next three following Asean TFWG meetings in 2018 and 2019. Brunei looks forward to your support and cooperation throughout its tenure as Chair towards making the meeting a success. I would also like to express gratitude to the previous Chairman Vietnam under whose able leadership, the Asean TFWG has continued to make significant progress,” Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal said.
The meeting is chaired by Brunei Darussalam and Cambodia as the Vice-chair.
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