The Marine Department led the delegation from Thailand Joined the 43rd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Water Transport (MTWG) between 20 – 22 September 2022 in Vietnam. push for cooperation in Reducing Carbon Emissions and Promoting the ASEAN Joint Sea Freight Market
Mr Somchai Sumanatkajornkul, Deputy Director General of the Maritime Department (SUT), led the delegation from Thailand to attend the 43rd ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group Meeting during the day 20 – 22 September 2022 at the Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel, Nha Trang City, Vietnam. along with representatives of the Marine Department and the Port Authority of Thailand were present at the meeting. which was supported by information from the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport Traffic Transport Policy and Planning Office, ASEAN Department and the Department of Treaties and Laws together with representatives from ASEAN member countries (Brurai Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam), Dialogue Partners (China, Japan and South Korea), representatives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other international agencies involved in the Assessment review and drive of transport-related activities and projects water under the ASEAN Strategic Transport Plan: KLTSP 2016-2025 with the aim of connecting ASEAN. lead to the economic and social development of the ASEAN Community
Regarding the outcome of the meeting, the meeting discussed and pressed for cooperation in the field of water transport on many issues. Key issues include steps to drive reductions in carbon emissions in the maritime transport sector. ASEAN Sea Freight Market Project Joint Development of Port Security in ASEAN Member Countries and cooperation with the International Maritime Organization and other international agencies.
Thailand has presented the progress of the Songkhla Port Development Plan. which is the main port for importing and exporting goods in the south of Thailand, cooperation progress on rules and regulations on maritime safety and pollution prevention on the Mekong River between Lao PDR and Thailand In addition, Thailand is a leading country in the initiative Presenting progress on the development of smart ports that focus on digital development, technology and innovation within the port to promote the operational efficiency of ports in the ASEAN region. As the country’s flagship initiative to tackle the shortage of containers due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has proposed amendments to the “Framework for the promotion of container rotation in the region”, so that the framework covers a wider range of dimensions under the strategy. the revised proposal has been accepted by ASEAN Member countries by the ASEAN Secretariat The draft framework for this will be presented to the STOM and ATM meetings for further approval in October 2022.
