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THE INDONESIAN Ministry of Transportation has been the Chair at a meeting of transportation sector leaders in the ASEAN region in Nusa Dua, Bali, since Saturday (10/15). The meeting resulted in the first inter-block agreement in the world, namely between ASEAN and Europe, related to the air transportation sector.
The meeting, which was led by Indonesia through the Ministry of Transportation, was the 54th ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting and Associated Meetings (STOM) on 15-16 October 2022. During the 2-day Asean STOM meeting, a number of recommendations for ratification of agreements in the sector had been made. transportation between ASEAN countries.
One of the strategic ones is the completion of negotiations on the ASEAN-European Union Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (AE CATA).
“This agreement will be the first inter-block agreement in the world in the air transportation sector, between ASEAN and the European Union,” said Secretary General of the Ministry of Transportation, Novie Riyanto who chaired the STOM meeting, quoted from a press release, Sunday (10/16).
Novie explained that the agreement is expected to support the rebuilding of air connectivity between the ASEAN region and Europe which has been affected by the pandemic and open up new growth opportunities for the aviation industry in both regions.
In addition, recommendations and ratification of other strategic agreements resulted, namely the agreement on the Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Cooperation. The agreement is an agreement to develop and enhance cooperation in the field of maritime and air search and rescue between ASEAN member countries.
There were a number of other agreements reached at the two meetings for each of the transport sectors. For example, in the air transportation sector, the delegates agreed on the ASEAN Guidelines on Airport Environmental Management System (EMS). Then, in the land transportation sector, there is an agreement on the Guiding Principles for the Regulation of Application-based Mobility Services for Passenger Transport in ASEAN.
Furthermore, in sea transportation, the meeting resulted in an agreement related to the Implementation Framework to Enhance Regional Container Circulation, to support the recovery of logistics distribution affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Through this agreement, it is hoped that cooperative relations in the transportation sector with member countries and with ASEAN dialogue partner countries will be stronger. And can increase solidarity between ASEAN countries to come together, recover, help and strengthen each other, in the midst of a global situation full of uncertainty,” said Novie.
After the ASEAN STOM meeting, the meeting will continue at the ASEAN Ministerial level or the 28th Asean Transport Ministers Meeting and Associated Meetings (ATM) on 16-17 October 2022.
The meeting will be chaired by the Indonesia’s Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. All agreements made at the ASEAN STOM meeting will be signed at the ATM meeting by the Minister of Transportation. To note, this year’s meeting was the first time it was held face-to-face after two years of being conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ASEAN STOM and ATM are an annual agenda that is carried out as a place to exchange experiences, discuss, propose initiatives for cooperation opportunities, and agree on ratification of strengthening connectivity for land, sea, air, and rail transportation between regions and between ASEAN and the international community. Apart from being attended by delegates from ASEAN member countries, delegates from partners such as China, Japan, South Korea and the European Union were also present. [sources/photo special]
