The efficient and safe transportation of goods and people is key to APEC's goal of free and open trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) aims to achieve the liberalisation of transportation services and works to enhance the safety of APEC transport systems to encourage economic development in the Asia-Pacific region. It aims to balance security, safety and environmental requirements with trade facilitation and its efforts are focused on: the facilitation of domestic policy regulations; the development of intermodal supply chains and secure transport activity; the integration of Corporate Social Responsibility; and building the capacity of all stakeholders to help them reach the eventual goal of free and open trade. At the same time, parallel measures are being undertaken by individual economies to strengthen the security of all transportation modes - land, sea and air.
The TPTWG has a clearly defined set of priority action areas based on the
2006 Leaders' Declaration, the 2007 Transportation Ministerial Meeting Statement and the TPT strategic direction paper. In the 2007 Statement Ministers agreed to:
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Aggressive road safety strategies tailored to the special circumstances of each economy.
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Prioritise the harmonisation of security measures, noting that differences in security processes across the region have implications for both passengers and industry, and in particular to work together on mass transit security measures.
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Help developing economies comply with global security requirements such as the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.
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Develop timetables and strategies to work towards the liberalisation of air services.
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Work together on a balanced package of options for addressing greenhouse gas emissions from aviation.
The Committee on Trade and Investment agreed to adopt a 10 percent overarching target to improve supply-chain performance in terms of time, cost and uncertainty by 2015 under the Supply-chain Connectivity Framework. The TPTWG acts as a part of the process and contributes to the initiative among other APEC working groups.
The 35th TPTWG meeting was held in Thailand in February 2012 and the 36th Transportation Working Group Meeting was held in Saint-Petersburg, Russia in late July 2012, followed by the Special Transportation Ministerial Meeting (STMM) held in August 2012. The meetings focused on addressing the priorities set by Russia for 2012 and initiatives introduced by the Russian Delegation to TPTWG – Diversified Supply Chains and Intelligent Supply Chains.
During the STMM, ministers discussed the implementation of the Supply Chain Connectivity Action Plan. Ministers also stressed the role of supply chain development in providing economic, energy, food and environmental security in the region and in the world, and affirmed the value of boosting liberalization of transport services in enhancing cargo and passenger movement.
The Ministers adopted the St. Petersburg Ministerial Declaration of the 2012 APEC Special Transportation Ministerial Meeting.
The TPTWG became a part of the Travel Facilitation Initiative and keeps working in close coordination with other APEC working groups, including the Energy Working Group, the Business Mobility Group, the Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures and others.
The TPTWG has successfully implemented a significant number of projects and is implementing a number of projects currently with more than ten that started in 2012.
- Transport, Energy and Environmental Benefits of Intermodal Freight Strategies
- Security Monitoring Model and Network for Regional Supply Chain with a particular focus on food security
- International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code Implementation Assistance Program (ICIAP)
- International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code Port Security Visit Program (PSVP)
- Airport Safety Evaluation Visit Program
- Sustainable Intermodal Transportation Using Short Sea Shipping
- APEC Training Course on Common Principles to Shipping Policy
- The Last-Mile of Supply Chain – Third Party Logistics Forum and Technical Visits
- Performance-Based Navigation Regulatory Review and Evaluation Program (PBNRREVP)
- Sharing Best Practices for Seamless Intermodal Cargo Movement
- Study to Develop a Green Port Evaluation Index
- Automated Transport Management Systems Implementation for Optimizing Logistics within the Asia-Pacific with an Emphasis on ITS and GNSS Application
The 7th Transportation Ministerial Meeting and the APEC Ministerial Conference on Transportation and Energy were held in San Francisco, the United States in September 2011, under the theme: “Balancing Safety, Security and Sustainability for the APEC Region.” Discussion topics included green growth and transportation innovation; regulatory cooperation and convergence; and strengthening regional economic integration in the transportation sector.
In the first APEC Ministerial Conference on Transportation and Energy, ministers focused on the theme: “Moving APEC towards a Low-Energy, Low-Carbon Sustainable Transport Future.” Discussion topics included powering low-carbon transport through biofuels and electricity; and greening the supply chain in the APEC region.
Alexey SAPETKO (Mr)
Program Director
APEC Secretariat
Email:
Arlene TURNER (Ms)
Lead Shepherd
Director General
Transport Canada
International and Intergovernmental Relations
Place de Ville, Tower C, 330 Sparks Street,
Ottawa Ontario
Canada, K1A 0N5
Tel: +613 991 6500
Fax: +613 991 6422
Email:
Cc:
essam.farag@tc.gc.ca