All of these cooperation agreements aim to strengthen supports for passenger and freight traffic between ASEAN countries.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Transportation has stated its readiness to implement the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport (AFAMT).

"I hope that all plans for this agreement can be implemented immediately to facilitate the smooth integration of the ASEAN region," Secretary General of the Ministry of Transportation Novie Riyanto said in a statement here on Friday (July 1), according to a report by Antara news agency.

Novie said, at the 53rd ASEAN Senior Transport Officials meeting which took place in Bali on 28-29 June 2022, Indonesia also conveyed the progress of the ratification process of cooperation agreements such as the ASEAN Cross Border Transport of Passengers by Road Vehicle (CBTP), the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Inter-State Transport (AFAFIST), and the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit (AFAFGIT) Protocol 6 which has reached its final stage.

All of these cooperation agreements aim to strengthen supports for passenger and freight traffic between ASEAN countries.

In order to strengthen connectivity and competitiveness of the ASEAN region, more intensive collaboration with ASEAN dialogue partner countries must be strengthened, Novie added.

"I note that a number of ASEAN dialogue partner countries, such as China, Japan, South Korea and the United States, have shown their contribution in implementing transportation sector development projects," he noted.

According to him, the working group formed so far has performed well in discussing various steps towards the timely implementation of agreements or memorandums of understanding under the ASEAN Transport Cooperation framework.

The meeting in Bali agreed on several drafts of cooperation agreements to be signed at the 28th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting to be held in October 2022 in Indonesia, namely the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (AE-CATA), and the ASEAN Agreement on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Cooperation.

Meanwhile, within the framework of cooperation between ASEAN and Dialogue Partners, the 1st ASEAN-US STOD was held, which is a meeting of high-level transportation officials from ASEAN Member States and the United States.

During the meeting, Indonesia proposed the inclusion of discussions related to the development of the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in the ASEAN-US work plan which has also been adopted, and will be ratified in the upcoming Transportation Ministerial Level meeting.

In addition, discussions on ASEAN cooperation with China, Japan and South Korea have also been carried out.

Indonesia and South Korea have agreed on the implementation of training programs in the land transportation and railway sectors for transportation officials in these two sectors.

Meanwhile, in the land transportation sector, Indonesia reported on the progress of road construction within the ASEAN Highway Network (AHN) in Kalimantan island to further strengthen supports for the smooth flow of traffic on the route.

In maritime transportation, Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the operation of the RO-RO (Roll-on/roll-off) shipping network in Dumai-Melaka and Bitung-Davao/General Santos as well as initiatives to increase container circulation in ASEAN and increase efforts to overcome limitations of containers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reporting by Indonesia Window