Regional Expert Group Meeting on Policy Options for Sustainable Transport Development November 2013, Incheon, Republic of Korea

Transcription

1 Regional Expert Group Meeting on Policy Options for Sustainable Transport Development November 2013, Incheon, Republic of Korea

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4 Kunming China Myanmar Malaysia Thailand Laos Bangkok Aranyaprathet Poi Pet Si So Phon Phnom Penth Singapore Cambodia Vietnam Loc Ninth Dong Ha Ho Chi Minth Missing Sections Aranyaprathet Klong Luk (in Thailand) Klong Luk Poipet (in Cambodia) Phnom Penh Loc Ninh (in Cambodia and Viet Nam) Rehabilitation Sections Si So Phon Phnom Penth (in Cambodia) Loc Ninh Ho Chi Minh City ( in Viet Nam) Hanoi Laocai (in Viet Nam) Route Length (kms.) Route Length (kms.)

5 Thailand Aranyaprathet Station 5.00 km 1.00 km Klongluk Stopping Place 6.00 km Cambodia Poipet Station

6 Stopping Place Thailand Cambodia Road Alignment Rail Alignment Access Road Big Tree Casino WINNER Stall Wall Skywalk Poipet Station

7 The rehabilitation contract on the eastern line, Aranyaprathet-Klong Luk, was signed on July 25 th, 2013 The name of the contractor is Ital Thai Development The contractor already entered to the site on September 3 rd, 2013 Border Common Bridge 7

8 Namtok Three Pagoda Pass Thanbyuzayat (Missing Link) The Feasibility Study was taken in It was concluded that the project provided low return and should be put off. The missing link are: 1. Namtok Three Pagoda Pass in Thailand (153 km) estimated to cost USD 491,149, Three Pagoda Pass Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar (110 km) estimated to cost USD 246,171,207 Myanmar Thanbyuzayat Three Pagoda Pass Namtok

9 Phase 1: Nong Khai Thanaleng March 20, 2004 Thai Government agreed to offer financial assistance to Lao PDR: 30% grant (THB59 million) and 70% low interest-bearing loan (THB138 million). Grand opening March 5, Phase 2: Thanaleng Vientiane June 14, 2012 The Loan Agreement amounted 1,650 Million Baht was signed for funding the Phase 2 of Lao Railway project. For the time being, the construction of the freight yard or Inland Container Depot at Thanaleng station is under construction now. 9

10 Summary: The progress of construction work on the missing link has been moving slow Rail infrastructure should be completed by 2015 Only the missing link between Thailand and Cambodia will be completed by 2014 The rest of the construction for the missing link and the spur line will be definitely delayed from the MPAC Only the Physical Connectivity can t guarantee a seamless movement of goods and people

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12 Summary: There are a lot of words like Expedite, Accelerate, Speed up, Simplify, Eliminate for the actions on Institutional Connectivity The Master Plan on ASEAN connectivity (MPAC) dose not state the dead line for the completion of Institutional Connectivity A lot of work need to be done to create a seamless movement of goods and people especially by rail because Protocol 6 in AFAFGIT facilitate only the movement of goods in transit What should we do to facilitate the movement of people in transit and goods and people for inter-state by rail?

13 Most of the railway authorities seem to spend more time in seeking source of fund to complete the hard infrastructure Those railway authorities spend less time for the development of a well-functioning CIQ (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine) which requires smaller amount of fund for necessary infrastructure and technology at border checkpoints They should have spent more time and effort for this activity before the completion of hard infrastructure

14 With or without agreements/protocols and the signing of the simplification and harmonization of relevant rules and standards on CIQ, the movement of trains for goods and people, for both inter-state and in-transit, can be done by the Joint Traffic Agreement which mutually agreed by the two railways Such agreement simplifies and harmonizes the railway rules and regulations to allow free flow of locomotives and rolling stocks across the border The relevant rules and regulation for CIQ are applied only on ad hoc basis. There is no standard on CIQ for the movement of goods and people across the border by rail

15 What we are doing now for pushing the movement of people and goods for both inter-state and in transit by rail seamlessly is to make use of the existing agreement by rail, rules, and regulations of parties concerned To push all ASEAN Member States to sign the agreement/protocol like the other legal frameworks is a right way to start but it will take more time to achieve the ultimate goal It took more than 10 years to sign Protocol 6 Railways Border and Interchange Stations and yet still under controversial whether all of Member States should ratify this Protocol or not

16 The countries who have railway connected should set up a joint committee and start discussing with the relevant and related authorities from both countries at the border The criteria of a discussion should cover the application of the existing rules and regulations not only CIQ but also other procedures at the border to facilitate the movement of goods and people in all aspects seamlessly and efficiently without waiting for the signing of more protocols The real case study should be put up and consult with those authorities whether they can facilitate such movement or not What the step should be done next to apply the existing rules and regulations for the implementation

17 The international standard of rules and regulation across the border should comprise of at least the following criterias: Transparency Public Input Evidence Based Quality Control Retroactive Review Flexibility Look for Alternative

18 In conclusion, although the physical connectivity is necessary for the seamless operation, the railway staff should also prepare for the information and start discussing with authorities concerned for the Institution Connectivity at the border. This activity does not need a big amount of fund to do like the Physical Connectivity but requires time and effort instead. The principles of discussion should be aiming at the transparency, public involvement, non-discrimination, flexibility, avoid the unnecessary regulation, and review the outcome. By doing this, probably, we can settle the Institution Connectivity before the Physical Connectivity and ready to implement the seamless operation once the construction is completed.

19 Prepare for the information and start discussing with authorities concerned for the Institution Connectivity at the border. It requires time and effort instead of big amount of fund. The principles of discussion should be aiming at the transparency, public involvement, non-discrimination, flexibility, avoid the unnecessary regulation, and review the outcome.

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