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Opening Remarks

By H.E. Dato Seri Setia Abdul Mutalib Yusof,

Minister of Transport and Infocommunications of

Brunei Darussalam

26^th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting

24 November 2020 (Tuesday), 10am – 1.30pm

Your Excellency Vice-Chair Mr. Sun Chanthol,

Senior Minister, Minister of Public Works and Transport of Cambodia,

Your Excellencies ASEAN Transport Ministers,

Your Excellency Dato Secretary-General of ASEAN,

Delegates, Ladies and gentlemen,

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh and a very good morning,

1. On behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, it is my great pleasure to cordially welcome you all to the first virtual 26^th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting. 

 

2. At the outset, I would like to begin by thanking my predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Van The of Viet Nam for his leadership and dedication throughout the last year.  Colleagues, it was during the last 25^th ATM in Ha Noi that I warmly welcomed you and your delegation to Brunei Darussalam.  Inevitably, the circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic have focused attention on the option of convening this meeting virtually. 

Excellencies,

3.  It has been a tremendously challenging year for all of us.  In such a short time, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected not only our region but the whole world due to the transcending nature of its impacts.  This is because COVID-19 has grown beyond health crisis and it has also profoundly made an impact to the transport and logistics sectors, and thus affecting regional and global supply chains.

4. At this point, allow me to share very recent updates on the global impact of COVID-19 based on data from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as of 12 November 2020: -

1. Air passenger traffic: An overall reduction of air passengers (both international and domestic) ranging from 59% to 60% in 2020 compared to 2019;
    
2. Airports: An estimated loss of approximately 60% of passenger traffic and 61% or over USD 104.5 billion airport revenues in 2020 compared to business as usual; and
    
3. Airlines: 54.7% decline of revenue passenger kilometres (both international and domestic) in 2020 compared to 2019;
   
    

5. What I have just shared, Excellencies, are not simply figures but it implies we have a much bigger task ahead of us.  As we continue to navigate this critical moment, we are reminded again of the importance of the transport sector to be one of the drivers of economic growth, even more so, for post COVID-19 and beyond.

 

6. On this, I would like to bring to colleagues' attention on the recently adopted ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and its Implementation Plan at the 37^th ASEAN Summit.  The document sets priorities for ASEAN sectoral bodies and other broader stakeholders, including the private sector and dialogue partners, to coordinate on the reopening of the economy based on 3Rs phased approach – Re-opening, Recovery and Resilience.

 

7.  In terms of its implementation, I see the role of transport in two (2) folds under the relevant ACRF broad strategies:

(i) First – Maximizing the potential of intra-ASEAN market and broader economic integration.  We will pursue through these key priorities:

• Strengthening supply chain connectivity and resilience;
• Setting up travel bubble/corridor framework;
• Strengthening transport facilitation/connectivity; and
• Accelerating sectoral recovery and safeguarding employment in most affected sectors.
  
   

(ii) Second – Advancing toward a more sustainable and resilient future – by focusing on initiatives and programmes relating to sustainable transport, which also supports the objectives of the Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan (KLTSP) 2016-2025.

Excellencies,

8. One of the early lessons of the pandemic was the importance of maintaining transport connectivity and the cross-border movement of essential goods.  This was made possible with the coherent and collective responses undertaken at the country, regional and global levels.  The unfolding crisis, however, has taught us a very important lesson - our response, not only has to be effective, but must also be sustainable.  By this, I mean our preparedness and readiness in terms of responding to future pandemics and absorbing future shocks.  Thus, I call for your support and welcome your ideas when we come to Agenda Item 7 on COVID-19 Recovery Plan.

9. In relation to this, I am very pleased to note the development of several important and timely initiatives by the relevant transport working groups in responding to the pandemic and also supporting the ACRF implementation: -

1. ASEAN-wide operational guidelines on COVID-19 for the protection and safety of passengers and operational air crew – to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission and enable the recovery of air travel within ASEAN in a safe manner.
   
    
2. COVID-19 Recovery Guidelines for Resilient and Sustainable International Road Freight Transport Connectivity in ASEAN – is another welcoming initiative.  Many thanks to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and also International Transport Forum (ITF) for their timely support.
   
    
3. ASEAN Database on Trade Routes and Framework for Enhancing Supply Chain Efficiency – within the context of Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, this database aims at helping ASEAN businesses to lower costs of transport and further facilitate ways of doing business towards strengthening ASEAN's competitiveness and foster regional inclusive growth and development.

10.      On a positive note, the pandemic also presented opportunities for us to rethink, review and reprioritise our work especially through the mid-term review of the Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan (KLTSP) 2016-2025.  Later today, under Agenda Sub-item 4.2, we will consider adopting the recommendations of the mid-term review and the Revised Schedule of Actions for the next cycle of KLTSP implementation.  At the same time, I kindly seek the full support of Excellencies to endorse several other new initiatives as part of ATM key deliverables for 2020: -

1. Transport Annual Priorities/Key Deliverables for 2021;
2. Implementing Protocol 2 (IP2): Aviation Training Organisations of Mutual Arrangement on Flight Crew Licensing (MRA on FCL);
3. ASEAN Air Navigation Service (ANS) Master Plan;
4. ASEAN-wide COVID-19 Operational Guidelines;
5. Guidelines for improving standard procedure for reporting road crashes in ASEAN Member States based on UN standards;
6. Brunei Declaration on Road Safety 2020;
7. ASEAN Road Safety Video; and
8. ASEAN Land Transport Network Map.
   
    

11. Here, I wish to take this opportunity to express my utmost appreciation to Your Excellencies and your respective delegation's commitment and contribution towards realizing these important achievements.  I understand two (2) of our annual priorities are yet to be finalised on ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) and ASEAN-New Zealand Air Services Agreement.  I welcome the very good progress made and specifically on ASEAN-EU CATA, I call upon concerned member states to further exercise greater flexibility so that we can finalise the agreement by the end of this year.

12. To conclude, Excellencies, the pandemic has brought about a host of challenges and opportunities.  On one hand, the transport and logistics systems have faced challenges and become vulnerable, but on the other hand, the pandemic has also given rise to new innovative solutions in terms of digitalized facilitation of transport processes.  Hence, let us seize upon this opportunity towards improving logistics competitiveness and efficiency in order to support the realization of a seamlessly connected ASEAN.  In short, let us move forward together in unity and solidarity for a successful transition to the "new and digital normal".

13. Lastly, I would like to end by expressing my appreciation to the Secretariat for the tremendous amount of work which has gone into the organisation of this meeting.  With that, I thank you.

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