TransASEAN 2002: Showcase of major change in transport and cargo industries
TransASEAN 2002: Showcase of major change in transport and cargo industries
Sudibyo M. Wiradji, Contributor, Jakarta
The TransASEAN 2002 Conference and Exhibition will be held at
the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) on Sept. 19 to Sept. 21,
offering the region's businessmen the rare opportunity to get
information on the latest developments in the transport and cargo
industries, both in terms of technology and policy.
PT Rantai Expo Internasional, the organizer of the event, said
that the first-ever conference to be held alongside the 8th ASEAN
Ministers Meeting (ATM), will address challenges and
opportunities in the transportation and logistics sectors as well
as Information Technology (IT) and telecommunication services now
that the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) is in place.
"By organizing TransASEAN 2002, we would like to offer all
transportation and logistics, IT and telecommunications industry
professionals a unique opportunity to get both the inside track
on the manufacturers' distribution strategies and the latest
industry intelligence from policy makers," Nararya S. Soeprapto,
Event Manager of the Rantai Expo Internasional.
TransASEAN 2002 is developed by the Indonesian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry in partnership with Indonesia's Ministry of
Communications, Indonesia's Ministry of Industry and Trade,
Indonesian Transport Society (MTI). The event is a regional forum
supported by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
ASEAN Freight Forwarders Association (AFFA), Federation of ASEAN
Shippers' Council, Federation of ASEAN Shipowners Association
(FASA) and ASEAN Ports Association (APA).
PT Rantai Expo Internasional, in cooperation with trade
representatives, transportation and logistics associations, is
organizing TransASEAN 2002.
"Since transport facilitation will be addressed by the ASEAN
Transport Ministers (ATM), an opportune occasion arose to hold
TransASEAN 2002 alongside the 8th ATM in September 2002 when
Indonesia becomes host and chair, Nararya said.
As importers and exporters are preparing to compete, regional
transportation and logistics service providers must learn the
shipping patterns that will change radically as a result of AFTA
and be prepared to address the efficient, timely and quality
delivery of products. "Thus, among the crucial issues, TransASEAN
2002 will fully investigate the challenges and opportunities that
this will create and how it will affect their business," he
pointed out.
The TransASEAN 2002 Conference is divided into Day-1 and Day-
2.
Day-1 offers a unique Government-to-Business (G2B) and
Business-to-Business (B2B) platform where leading transport
industry professionals will have an important opportunity to get
the inside track of their client's distribution strategies and
the latest information from policy makers and industry leaders
within AFTA.
Day-2 addresses the commercial advantages of AFTA with
dedicated sessions for transport and logistics managers of
manufacturers, importers and exporters, to learn about the bottom
line commercial advantages that AFTA will create for their
business.
Key issues to be addressed include "Transportation and
Logistics Initiative Aimed at AFTA", "Transportation and
Logistics Solutions for Increasing Trade under AFTA", AFTA and
Industrial Goals", and "How Transportation and Logistics Can
Succeed Trade and Industrial Goals".
To show their unprecedented support for TransASEAN 2002, ASEAN
and China Transport Ministers have confirmed their attendance.
Minister of Communications, Agum Gumelar has invited Rini
Soewandi, Minister of Trade and Industry of Indonesia, Dato' Ling
Liong Silk, Minister for Transport of Malaysia, Huang Zhendong,
Minister for Communications of PRC, Rodolfo C. Severino, JR.,
ASEAN Secretary General, particularly, to deliver keynote
addresses.
Among the private sector speakers include Mohd Yunus Idros,
General Manager of Maskargo Sdn.Bhd. Dr. Suthad Setboonsarng,
Regional Director of PricewaterhouseCoppers, Bangkok, Capt. Hup
Cheng-Tan, Regional Director of the Port of Authority of New York
and New Jersey and Johan Lubbe Baker, Managing Director of Euro-
East Bridge and Albert Tan, Logistics Manager of Port Singapore
Authority (PSA).
TransASEAN will also feature an exhibition, providing an
unrivaled platform for businesses operating in the fields of
transportation and logistics to promote their technologies,
products, and services to industry leaders and thousands of
highly qualified trade professionals and buyers.
"TransASEAN offers a unique environment for exhibitors to
network with the region's leading policy-makers and association
members, and to identify suppliers and potential business
partners," Nararya said.
TransASEAN exhibitors represent all sectors in the transport
distribution chain from the manufacturers to shipping to ports,
airports and their links with rail and road networks.
More than 700 sq meters of exhibition space will be available,
creating the premier "Shop Window" for manufacturers in
attendance and the ability to be able to assess and compare their
logistics option for cargo distribution throughout Southeast Asia
and the world.
Airlines and airports and their authorities, express cargo
operators and project cargo specialists are integral parts of the
exhibition.
Rodolfo C. Severino, Jr, ASEAN Secretary General, emphasized
the importance of TransASEAN 2002, saying that the event is a
"valuable platform to develop and promote regional and
international contact among government, transport and logistics
service industries." "This initiative would stimulate business
and foreign investment opportunities in reliable and efficient
trans-ASEAN transportation services, as envisaged in the ASEAN
Vision 2020 and the Hanoi Plan of Action," he noted.