| Fizah HAB |
THE Land Transport Department hosted a farewell dinner for participants of the 35th Asean Transport Facilitation Working Group (TFWG) meeting last night at The Horizons Seafood Restaurant, Bandar Seri Begawan.
The TFWG meeting began last Tuesday and ends today, at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Berakas.
Dr Haji Supry bin Haji Awang Ladi, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications as the guest of honour delivered the opening speech at the dinner.
Also in attendance was Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Acting Director of Land Transport and Chairman of the 35th TFWG meeting.
Delegates from Asean member states, Asean Secretariat, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT), and the Asean Regional Integration Support by the EU (ARISE) as Asean Dialogue Partner; as well as Asean transport associations, namely Asean Federation of Forwarders Association (AFFA) and Asean Trucking Federation (ATF) were also present at the dinner.
The guest of honour expressed gratitude to TFWG leaders and delegates for the commitment, support and unity in implementing transport measures towards realising the Asean Connectivity 2025 vision, to achieve a seamless and comprehensively connected and integrated Asean that will promote competitiveness, inclusiveness and a greater sense of community.
The meeting deliberated on the implementation of the newly signed Asean Framework Agreement on Cross-Border Transport of Passengers by Road Vehicles (CBTP), which will facilitate seamless cross-border mobility of passengers between and among Asean member states, further enhancing people-to-people connectivity and promote tourism and investment.
Issues discussed during the meeting included the progress by Asean member states in implementing the goods and transport facilitation framework agreements, and implementing protocols to meet the timeframe given.
The agreements include 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).
The meeting also deliberated on the progress on the pilot testing of the Asean Customs Transit System (ACTS), particularly the ACTS Roll-Out implementation in the North-South Corridor, comprising Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and the East-West Corridor, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.
The delegates also presented their ongoing cooperation programmes and proposals in support of the Asean transport actions.
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