TransASEAN 2002: Showcase of major change in transport and cargo industries

Fri, 02 Aug 2002

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.

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