Brunei pushes cross-border movement of buses, coaches

BRUNEI is pushing to implement a deal to that would allow cross-border movement of buses and coaches across its neighbours comprising the Bimp-Eaga grouping, while at the same time open up sea and air linkages.

In opening a meeting yesterday of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga) on freeing transport links, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Hj Alaihuddin POKDG Hj Mohd Taha said, "It is now time to implement and I believe that we are all now set to do so with the cross-border movement of buses and coaches and also those of sea linkages in our respective ports."

He added, "We look forward to the time when our airline operators will very soon fly into our designated airports in the Bimp-Eaga region so it can fully benefit our people and that we can be a gateway to the global community and the world market."

Hj Alaihuddin highlighted that the "transportation sector is one of the key enablers, as well as key beneficiaries in realising Bimp-Eaga's goals to increase trade, investments and tourism within the sub-region."

Better transport links will greatly influence how and where businesses will be located and developed. In turn, this would then have an influence on the economic potential and quality of life for the people in Bimp-Eaga, he said.

The fifth Bimp-Eaga Transport, Infrastructure and ICT Development Cluster Meeting started yesterday, bringing together about 80 participants at the Centrepoint Hotel.

The cluster, consisting of working groups on air and sea linkages, land transport, information and communications technology and telecommunications, and construction and construction materials, will carry out discussions during the two-day meeting where Brunei will chair the air linkages working group, Indonesia the sea linkages working group and Malaysia the land transport working group.

The meeting will focus on the development of the transport sectors within the sub-group, and also related sectors such as infrastructure, construction materials and ICT.

It will also focus on the necessary support mechanism for initiatives identified in the 2008 Bimp-Eaga action plan as well as ongoing implementation of the three memoranda of understanding signed in 2007, namely, the expansion of air linkages; cross-border movement of buses and coaches, such as the issuance of permits to operate buses across borders between Brunei, the state of Kalimantan, Indonesia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia; encourage airlines to service the Eaga designated routes; and encourage shipping activities within the region.

Hj Alaihuddin said the group was formed to serve as a platform for the Bimp-Eaga governments to exchange views on transport management and experiences in resolving transport infrastructure facilities and logistical services development in the region.

He said the public-private sector partnership through the Bimp-Eaga Business Council is an important vehicle in helping to achieve their vision, noting there has been an increasing and encouraging interest by the private sector to join the efforts to identify problems and create opportunities for the long-term development of the region.

Referring to the three main documents signed towards enhancing sub-regional connectivity, he added that it marked a significant achievement in the development of transport links, but also underscores the recognition of the Bimp-Eaga sub-region as a testing ground for Asean initiatives.

He said the group must build on the momentum created by their leaders and that they should all play their part in helping to facilitate and effectively realise the objectives set out to promote trade, commerce, tourism and people exchanges within the sub-region.

Hj Alaihuddin said that there is still much that needs to be done and there are many challenges to be overcome, but more of it will need to be done in a more concerted and timely manner in order to realise the goals set out in the Bimp-Eaga Roadmap to Development and its action plan, which guides the direction of the group from 2006 to 2010.

Ang Kian Gua, director of Transportation, Ministry of Communication, Brunei Darussalam, chairs the meeting.

In the second half of the meeting held today, the group will hold plenary sessions to deliver the reports of the working group meetings and discuss the preparation for the third Bimp-Eaga Transport Ministers Meeting and decide on the date and venue.The Brunei Times