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Transportation Working Group

  

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:
  • Aggressive road safety strategies tailored to the special circumstances of each economy.
  • 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.
  • Help developing economies comply with global security requirements such as the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.
  • Develop timetables and strategies to work towards the liberalisation of air services.
  • Work together on a balanced package of options for addressing greenhouse gas emissions from aviation.


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Achievements

The 31st APEC TPTWG Meeting was held in Lima on 25-29 August 2008.

The outcomes of APEC's transportation related activities for the year were reported, including:
  • Sixth Secure Trade in APEC Region Conference (STAR VI) (August 2008)
  • Security and Vulnerabilities of the Global Supply Chain Conference (August 2008)
  • Capacity Building Workshop on APEC Trade Recovery Program (July 2008).
  • Public-Private Partnership to Counter Terrorism and Secure Trade Workshop (August 2008)
  • APEC Air Cargo Security Workshop (June 2008)
  • First meeting of the Transportation Working Group's Aviation Emissions Task Force (July 2008).
Nominations for Council Members of the APEC Port Services Network were confirmed from 14 member economies. It was also decided that the rail transport system will be included in the scope of the work of the Road Safety Sub Group.
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Current Activities

Five transportation-related projects have been endorsed for implementation in 2009.
  • Study of International Visitor Flows and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: the study will examine the impact on APEC member economies of future market-based measures applying to international transport. The project will develop a pilot economic model to assist in developing tourism and transport policy through analysis of international and intra-regional tourist flows, and subsequent carbon emissions.
  • Using More Inland Rivers in Intermodal Transport: a study and seminar will identify the advantages of intermodal transfer for ocean-river and rail-river operations and will analyse the effectiveness of policies and measures for promoting inland waterway transportation and its important role in intermodal transportation.
  • Survey of Supply Chain Workforce Development Needs and the conduct of seminars on Managing Operations and Risk in International Global Supply Chain Operations. This project will develop a roadmap to provide training on intermodal and supply chain skills.
  • Secure and Smart Container Development for Intermodal Transport: a study and a seminar will introduce a secure and smart container concept with practical applications in intermodal transport. The project will also help coordinate the development of technology and international standards for the new secure and smart container concept.
  • Development of a Compendium of Best Practices on Motorcycle and Scooter Safety to improve motorcycle and scooter safety and to reduce motorcycle and scooter crashes and the associated socio-economic costs and post-crash trauma.

The 6th Transportation Ministerial Meeting (TPTMM6) will be held in Manila, Philippines, on 27-29 April 2009. The meeting will focus on seamless transportation systems, vehicle emissions, transport security and safety, regional harmonisation, fuel efficiency and trade facilitation. Special attention will also be given to the role of transportation in responding to the Global Financial Crisis and the integration of Corporate Social Responsibility into TPTWG activities.

The 32nd TPTWG meeting is scheduled to be held in Singapore on 25-28 July 2009.

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Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) - Key Contacts
Lead Shepherd
Ms Maria Elena H.Bautista
Undersecretary for Maritime Transport
Department of Transportation and Communications
The Clumbia Tower
Ortigas Avenue
Mandaluyong City
The Philippines
Tel: +63 2725 0204
Fax:+63 2726 6221
Email: ehb769@yahoo.com; usecmehb@dotcmain.gov.ph

APEC Secretariat
Mr. Andrey Y Plam
Director (Program)
E-mail: ayp@apec.org
Reviewed on: 23 April 2009