Mega to open APEC transportation meet

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri is expected to kick off the fourth meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)'s transportation ministers on July 27, in Nusa Dua, Bali.

Twenty one transportation ministers of APEC, plus a number of observers from the ASEAN secretariat, APEC secretariat, South Pacific Forum (SPF) and Macao, have confirmed that they will take part in the forum, a press release said on Monday.

The biennial forum will run through until July 29.

The 21 APEC members are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, RRC, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippine, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the U.S., and Vietnam.

The meeting will discuss cooperation in boosting safety and security in the transportation sector, and the empowerment of human resources involved in land, sea and air transportation, the statement said.

To boost safety, the cooperation will focus on efforts to improve, among other areas, the Intelligent Transport System and the Satellite Navigation and Communication System.

As for human resources empowerment, the discussion will be centered on the setting up of courses and training on related issues, such as aviation laws, the statement said.

"Aside from sharing experiences and information with global experts on transportation, the forum is also expected to make Indonesia an investment destination in the transportation sector for APEC members," it added.