Strategy 2: Implement initiatives to facilitate inter-state passenger land
transportation
16. The expansion of road and rail connections within ASEAN would help to facilitate land travel between
Member States (by private vehicles, tour buses and coaches) which could result in the development of
new tour packages comprising tourism products from different Member States.
17. However, there are a number of challenges which could impede the free movement of vehicles, goods,
and people across international borders including (i) restrictions on the entry of motor vehicles; (ii)
different standards requirements (vehicle size, weight and safety requirements, and driver qualifications);
(iii) inconsistent procedures related to customs inspections, customs clearances, and assessment of
duties; and (iv) restrictive visa requirements.
18. In addressing these concerns, under the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), the Cross Border Transport
Agreement (CBTA) was signed to facilitate cross-border transport for both goods and people. BIMPEAGA
also signed and implemented the Memorandum of Understanding on Cross Border Movement
for Buses and Coaches. Several ASEAN Member States have also entered into bilateral agreements to
cater for greater cross-border mobility of passenger vehicles.
19. ASEAN should capitalise on the existing sub-regional agreements with the view to develop it into an
ASEAN-wide agreement to facilitate inter-state passenger land transportation in the region.
Key actions:
(i) Expedite the implementation of the existing bilateral and sub-regional arrangements on facilitation of
inter-state passenger land transportation in the region by 2013.
(ii) Develop a regional ASEAN arrangement on facilitation of inter-state passenger land transportation, based
on the assessment of the implementation of the bilateral and sub-regional arrangements by 2015.
Strategy 3: Develop the ASEAN Single Aviation Market (ASAM)
20. In view of the rapidly growing importance of air transportation as well as the accelerated restructuring
of the global aviation market, ASEAN needs to strengthen its aviation industry by establishing the ASAM.
Low Cost Carriers (LCCs) have been rapidly growing in ASEAN, thereby facilitating intra-ASEAN tourism
which in turn contributes to enhanced “people-to-people” connectivity. The Roadmap for Integration of
Air Travel Sector (RIATS) has defined the timeline to establish the ASAM by 2015.
Key actions:
(i) Ratify and implement the Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Air Freight Services
(MAFLAFS) and its Protocols 1 and 2 as soon as possible, in support of the establishment of the AEC by
2015, noting that the implementation timelines of the MAFLAFS and its Protocols 1 and 2 as agreed by
ASEAN Transport Ministers are 31 December 2008.
(ii) Ratify and implement the Multilateral Agreement on Air Services (MAAS) and its Protocols 1 to 6 as
soon as possible, in support of the establishment of the AEC by 2015, noting that the implementation
timelines of the MAAS as agreed by ASEAN Transport Ministers are 31 December 2008 for Protocol 5
and 31 December 2010 for Protocol 6.
MASTER PLAN ON ASEAN CONNECTIVITY 46
(iii) Sign the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Passenger Air Services (MAFLPAS)
by 2010 and ratify and implement MAFLPAS and its Protocols as soon as possible, in support of the
establishment of the AEC by 2015, noting that the implementation timelines of Protocols 1 and 2 are 30
June 2010 and 30 June 2013 respectively.
(iv) Conclude the Air Transport Agreement (ATA) with China by 2010, India and ROK, and possibly other
regional partners, not later than 2015, and thereafter consider the possible expansion to other
partners.
(v) Formulate an ASEAN Single Aviation Market (ASAM) Roadmap and implementation strategy by 2011
and develop an ASAM by 2015.
Strategy 4: Develop an ASEAN Single Shipping Market
21. Progressive integration towards the formation of an ASEAN single shipping market and intensified
development of the maritime network infrastructure will lead towards a stronger ASEAN maritime
sector, operating efficiently and delivering quality goods and services at competitive prices.
Key actions:
(i) Finalise the development of strategies by 2012 for an ASEAN Single Shipping Market and develop the
relevant framework for its implementation no later than 2015.
Strategy 5: Accelerate the free flow of goods within ASEAN region by eliminating
barriers to merchandise trade within the region
22. The full play of comparative advantage and the deepening of regional production and distribution
networks in the ASEAN region necessitate that goods flow as freely as possible within the region. This
will allow for maximisation of complementarities and synergies among economies and production areas
in the ASEAN region, which will lead to greater international competitiveness of the region in trade in
the global arena.
23. Given that tariffs on intra-ASEAN merchandise trade have virtually gone to zero in the original ASEAN-6
countries at present and will go virtually to zero in the newer CLMV countries by 2015 (with some
exceptions), eliminating the barriers to merchandise trade within ASEAN in order to accelerate the free
flow of goods in the region would entail the following:
Key actions:
(i) Rationalise and minimise non-tariff measures of ASEAN Member States.
a) Undertake a complete and up-to-date inventory of non-tariff measures of ASEAN Member States
using the most updated international classification of non-tariff measures by 2015.
b) Expedite the operationalisation of the ASEAN Trade Repository (ATR) by 2015 so as to promote
transparency and foster voluntary compliance while providing more certainty and predictability to
business and industries.