The ASEAN connectivity is based on several strategic plans, stated Bambang Prihartono, the transportation director of the National Development Planning Ministry, here on Friday.
These strategic plans include the development of the ASEAN Highway Network (AHN), which is being handled by the Bina Marga director general of the Public Works Ministry; the construction of the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link (SKRL); the development of maritime transportation by the Transportation Ministry; the development of an intermodal transportation system to enhance the ASEAN transportation centre in East Asia; the acceleration of the Information and Communications Technology infrastructure development and services in ASEAN member countries; and energy resilience programmes in infrastructure projects.
In this regard, Indonesia has identified certain priority projects such as the AHN, the transportation routes that will interconnect Malaka-Pekanbaru and West Kalimantan-Serawak, the roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) network and the short-sea shipping master plan.
ASEAN is committed to building a community by 2015, and this goal can only be realised by enhancing connectivity, because a well-connected ASEAN - from its transportation networks to its peoples - will result in a more competitive and resilient ASEAN, bringing peoples, goods, services and capital closer together in accordance with the ASEAN Charter.
The imperatives for enhancing connectivity in ASEAN are manifold. ASEAN is a region populated by around 600 million people, with a combined gross domestic product of US$ 1.5 trillion. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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