Transportation continues to play a major role in achieving the ASEAN Vision towards a stronger, inclusive and people-oriented community as well as integrated with the global economy. Full recovery of the transportation sector remains an ongoing challenge following the COVID-19 pandemic but the work achieved in this year’s ATM meetings shows the transport officials’ continued commitment towards revival of the transportation sector.
This was said by Indonesia’s Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi in his capacity as Chairman of the ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM) in 2022 at the 28th ATM and Associated Dialogue Partner Meetings in Bali, Indonesia.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha attended the 28th ATM and Associated Dialogue Partner Meetings.
The meeting adopted two key documents: (i) the ASEAN Agreement on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Cooperation (ASEAN SAR Agreement); and (ii) the ASEAN-European Union Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (AE-CATA).
Both agreements were signed by Brunei Darussalam during the 28th ATM meeting.
The ASEAN SAR Agreement will develop and strengthen aeronautical and maritime SAR cooperation among the ASEAN member states, including the exchange and sharing of SAR-related information and experience.
Meanwhile, the AE-CATA, as the first bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement in the world, would also help bolster air connectivity between the region and enhance opportunities between the two sides as air transport moves towards recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting adopted and agreed on the following documents, reflecting recent global trends in sustainable development and digitalisation: the Annual Priorities/Key Deliverables in Transport for 2023, including policy recommendations to improve electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and charging stations, and development of the ASEAN Sustainable Aviation Action Plan (ASAAP) and its work plan; the ASEAN Guidelines on Airport Environment Management System (EMS); the guiding principles for the Regulation of Application-based Mobility Services for Passenger Transport in ASEAN; and the implementation framework to enhance container circulation in ASEAN.
The meeting also agreed to the establishment of the ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) Task Force on Sustainable Transport, which will look to respond to emerging issues and new initiatives, among others, in the areas of sustainable development, decarbonisation and digitialisation of the transport sector.
The STOM Task Force will also undertake the end-review of the Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan (KLTSP) 2016-2025, and develop the successor of the KLTSP for implementation beyond 2025.
The 28th ATM was followed by meetings with ASEAN dialogue partners – China, Japan and South Korea – to discuss initiatives for the continued development of transport cooperation including on endorsement of their respective frameworks. The 28th ATM was preceded by the 54th ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (54th STOM) and Associated Dialogue Partner Meetings held on October 14 in Bali.
The Brunei delegation was led by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications Ir Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof.
The 54th STOM and Dialogue Partner Meetings discussed documents for endorsement by the ministers, as well as the status of programmes, activities and projects.