News Courtesy: ASEAN Secretariat Press Release, 11 December 2009
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ASEAN Transport Ministers have agreed to further deepen and broaden Member States' commitments in liberalising air transport ancillary services in the region. Meeting at the 15th ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM) Meeting on 10 December 2009 in Ha Noi, the Ministers concluded and signed the Protocol to implement the 6th Package of Air Transport Services Commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and its Annex.
The Ministers also welcomed the entry into force in October 2009 of the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on Air Services and the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Air Freight Services, which were concluded last year at the 14th ATM. It is envisaged that the implementation of these Agreements and their implementing Protocols will provide the competitive space and opportunities for greater expansion of air travel within the ASEAN region, in terms of more destinations, increased capacities and lower fares.
In addition, the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Passenger Air Services and its Protocols have been finalised and all Member States were encouraged to complete the domestic procedures for their signing by next year.
The meeting of the transport ministers comes at a time when ASEAN is looking at its connectivity within and with the wider Asia-Pacific region in supporting community building efforts and centrality of ASEAN in the evolving regional architecture. "The coming into force of the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on Air Services and the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Air Freight Services as well as the expected conclusion of the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Passenger Air Services and its Protocols in 2010 will serve as the foundations for ASEAN Open Skies supporting community building, and economic integration and competitiveness of the ASEAN single market and production base by 2015,” said the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community, H.E. S. Pushpanathan.
The ASEAN Ministers also agreed to implement measures to mitigate climate change especially in the land transport sector and promotion of energy efficiency and sustainable urban transport in ASEAN cities.
The Ministers also convened meetings with their counterparts from ASEAN Dialogue Partners. “The various intra-ASEAN transport initiatives and concrete plans with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea will also strengthen economic ties, support the development of a competitive and integrated ASEAN and put in place more environmentally friendly transport infrastructure and systems for sustainable economic and social development of the region," said DSG Pushpanathan.
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ASEAN Transport Ministers have agreed to further deepen and broaden Member States' commitments in liberalising air transport ancillary services in the region. Meeting at the 15th ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM) Meeting on 10 December 2009 in Ha Noi, the Ministers concluded and signed the Protocol to implement the 6th Package of Air Transport Services Commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and its Annex.
The Ministers also welcomed the entry into force in October 2009 of the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on Air Services and the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Air Freight Services, which were concluded last year at the 14th ATM. It is envisaged that the implementation of these Agreements and their implementing Protocols will provide the competitive space and opportunities for greater expansion of air travel within the ASEAN region, in terms of more destinations, increased capacities and lower fares.
In addition, the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Passenger Air Services and its Protocols have been finalised and all Member States were encouraged to complete the domestic procedures for their signing by next year.
The meeting of the transport ministers comes at a time when ASEAN is looking at its connectivity within and with the wider Asia-Pacific region in supporting community building efforts and centrality of ASEAN in the evolving regional architecture. "The coming into force of the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on Air Services and the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Air Freight Services as well as the expected conclusion of the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Passenger Air Services and its Protocols in 2010 will serve as the foundations for ASEAN Open Skies supporting community building, and economic integration and competitiveness of the ASEAN single market and production base by 2015,” said the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community, H.E. S. Pushpanathan.
The ASEAN Ministers also agreed to implement measures to mitigate climate change especially in the land transport sector and promotion of energy efficiency and sustainable urban transport in ASEAN cities.
The Ministers also convened meetings with their counterparts from ASEAN Dialogue Partners. “The various intra-ASEAN transport initiatives and concrete plans with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea will also strengthen economic ties, support the development of a competitive and integrated ASEAN and put in place more environmentally friendly transport infrastructure and systems for sustainable economic and social development of the region," said DSG Pushpanathan.
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