ASEAN nations are committed to improve transport between countries in the region as the Covid-19 pandemic has severely impacted the sector.
The commitment was made by the 10-member group during the 40th Asean Transport Facilitation meeting that was held via a video conference hosted by Cambodia last Tuesday and Wednesday.
Kong Sophal, deputy head of the Cambodian Land Transport Department, told The Phnom Penh Post that the meeting focused on four Asean Framework Agreements related to regional transport restoration.
"These agreements began to be implemented step by step, but due to the problem of Covid-19, the agreements have faltered a lot," he said, adding that delegates also discussed ways of continuing the transfer of goods at borders and how to facilitate them.
"We discussed solutions to the transfer of goods, exchanging truck heads or trailers and to permit trucks to enter a country for a short time. It is hoped that the process will go smoothly and the majority of goods can be unloaded at the border," said Kong, who also chaired the meeting.
At the meeting, the Asean leaders agreed on two documents – the post-Covid-19 recovery programme and the preparation of a special route for traders who are obliged to leave and enter countries.
Problems relating to customs, insurance, transport surveillance systems and legal framework development for all modes of transport were also discussed.
Meanwhile, Cambodia Logistics Association president Sin Chanthy said transporting goods in the Asean region remained good despite some obstacles during the pandemic.
"Bilateral transport is still smooth but transport from the first country to a third country is yet to be implemented in general," he said.
He added that after more than a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, transport has been hindered because Asean nations have tightened their border security.
"Each country has tightened crossings due to the Covid-19 crisis. For example, previously, we could transport goods in a day, but now it takes two to three days," he said.
Cambodia Rice Federation president Song Saran said as a rice exporter, he requested all countries to facilitate transport, particularly for Cambodia.
"Please, Cambodia is a less competitive country. I request this because when the situation improves, each country will scramble to survive," he said, adding that highly competitive countries usually reserved large spaces on a ship to transport their goods.
He said Cambodia was currently unable to transport goods to the United States, Australia, China and the European Union because the country depends on the ports in Singapore and Malaysia to transport goods to a third country.