Committee on Transportation and Communications

AT THE Twelfth AEM Meeting in January 1982, COTAC was able to report on more than half a year of broad progress in the various areas of cooperation in the fields of transport and communications since the Eleventh Meeting of the AEM in May 1981. Of special significance was the drawing up of the Integrated Work Programme on Shipping as a direct follow-up of the AEM's Resolution on Shipping adopted at their Tenth Meeting in October 1980 and reaffirmed at their Eleventh Meeting.

Shipping and Ports

An Integrated Work Programme on Shipping (IWPS) for the period 1982-1986 was drawn up by the Joint Ad Hoc Working Group on Shipping (JAHWGS) in Manila on 24-26 September and subsequently adopted by COTAC and the AEM. The IWPS, as an action plan for the period 1982-1986, emerged from a review of existing COTAC activities in the maritime area, and is designed for the coordinated implementation of the policy of - ASEAN in shipping as enunciated in the ASEAN Resolution on Shipping - i.e. the attainment of greater efficiency and economy in the carriage of ASEAN trade by promoting and strengthening ASEAN self-reliance and cooperation in shipping.

The IWPS contains five major programmes: (1 General Maritime Development and Issues; (2) Development of ASEAN Shipping; (3) Shippers Organisations and Cooperation; (4) Development of ASEAN Ports; and (5) Cooperation on Special Maritime Issues and Problems.

Each programme has certain set objectives which are to be attained through various projects and activities. Such projects and activities have pre-determined dates of implementation, specified coordinating mechanisms, and are priority-ranked. Prospective sources of technical and financial assistance for these projects have also been identified.

Land Transportation

Satisfactory progress has been made in the 14 COTAC land transportation projects aimed at harmonising the land transportation systems of the various member countries and standardising national usages and regulations in order to facilitate the intra-ASEAN movement of people and goods.

With regard to the proposed Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licences issued by ASEAN Countries, all countries have indicated their acceptance.

The Fifth Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Land Transportation decided to publish a booklet on driving license requirements and common offenses and penalties attached thereto for the information of ASEAN motorists and to promote road safety among motorists. One thousand copies of the booklets have been published and distributed.

Civil Aviation and Related Services

In the field of civil aviation, ASEAN witnessed a quieter year with the resolution, first with Australia and then Britain, of the issue of ASEAN's participatory rights on the Australia-U.K. air route. The year saw the establishment of the ASEAN International Airports Association, an idea first mooted in 1977, with the aim of developing regional cooperation among the ASEAN international airports on airport development, operation and management; and promoting and protecting the interest of member airport authorities.

With regard to the establishment of Centres of Excellence in Civil Aviation, member countries agreed in October 1981 that Centres of Excellence for Meteorological Training and Aviation Security Training be assigned to the Philippines and Malaysia respectively.

Posts and Telecommunications

With regard to the Submarine Cable Project, the construction contract of the third segment between Malaysia and Singapore and the fourth segment between Malaysia and Thailand was signed in Bangkok on 7 August 1981. It is expected that they will be ready for service by March 1983. The implementation of the last segment between the Philippines and Thailand was however postponed indefinitely due to a perceived lack of traffic demand.

With respect to the operation of the existing segments of the Project, it was reported at the Fifth Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Posts and Telecommunications on 26-28 August 1981, that both the Indonesia-Singapore as well as Philippines- Singapore segments were generally performing very well.

In the area of posts, various ongoing projects aimed both at improving the quality and lowering the cost of postal services in the ASEAN region are progressing satisfactorily.