14^th Transportation Working Group Meeting
Seoul, October 19-23, 1998

 Agenda Item 12
TPT/14/PLEN/12
Chairs Report
FINAL

 Lead Shepherd

 REPORT FROM THE CHAIR OF THE FOURTEENTH MEETING OF THE APEC
TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP
SEOUL, KOREA
October 19-23, 1998

1. OPENING STATEMENT AND WELCOME

1. The Republic of Korea hosted the Fourteenth Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Transportation Working Group (TPT-WG) in Seoul, October 19-23, 1998. The Meeting’s Program included two days of Expert and Sub-Group meetings as well as the meetings of the Steering Committees. The Plenary session, which was chaired by the Lead Shepherd, was held on Thursday October 22 and the meeting concluded Friday with a technical tour of the construction site of the new Inchon International Airport and the Port of Inchon.

2. At the TPT-WG-14 meeting,181 participants from 18 economies (Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; the People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Philippines; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; and the United States of America) were in attendance. A representative of the APEC Secretariat also attended the meeting. Three new Members-Designate, Peru, Russia and Vietnam, were also represented. The Airports Council International was represented as guest member. A complete list of participants appears in Document TPT/14/PLEN/INF. 1/FINAL.

3. Opening remarks were made on behalf of the Host Economy by Mr. Jeong Im-Cheon, Assistant Minister for Transport Policy of the Ministry of Construction and Transportation. (TPT/14/PLEN/1). In welcoming delegates to Seoul, Mr. Jeong stressed the need for cooperation among economies as an essential factor for economic growth and indicated that APEC was indeed a symbol of such cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. In that vein, Assistant Minister Jeong expressed the wish that there will be more active and vigorous cooperation among APEC economies and that the TPT-WG would play a key role in this vital endeavor.

3. CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF AGENDA

4. The Agenda (TPT/14/PLEN/2) was adopted without amendment.

3. TPT MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Report from Shepherds / HODs / SCCs Meetings of October 19 and 21, 1998.

5. The Working Group noted the report (TPT/14/Plen/3.1) from the Shepherds/HODs/SCCs meetings of October 19 and 21.

6. The Chair was pleased to inform the meeting that New Zealand was elected Deputy Lead Shepherd and that Canada was confirmed as Lead Shepherd following the resignation of Indonesia. Both economies will hold office until December 31, 1999. The Chair also pointed out that economies should consider taking on a Shepherd/Coordinator role within the Working Group when the current terms expire at the end of 1999.

7. The Chair highlighted the several new management requirements emanating from SOM, in particular those related to the mandate review and the institution of a new Evaluation and Reporting System for APEC projects as well as the preparation of annual operational plans ("Draft Common Review Procedure/Criteria", "Guidelines for Evaluation and Reporting Systems for APEC Projects"). The Chair welcomed these developments and encouraged the Working Group to integrate them into its ongoing activities.

4. PRESENTATION ON TPT-WG WEBSITE

8. Australia gave a presentation on the development of the TPT-WG Web Site that has been operational since September 3, 1998. It was noted that Canada, Chile, Japan, Korea and the US had assisted Australia in the design and development of the Web Site.

9. The Chair expressed the TPT-WG’s appreciation for the excellent work that Australia and other members have contributed to establishing this Web Site and encouraged all member economies to use it to its full potential.

The Internet Web Site Address is http://www.apectptwg.org.au

6. REPORT FROM THE STEERING COMMITTEE ON MORE COMPETITIVE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY (INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE)

10. Korea, the Coordinator of the Steering Committee on More Competitive Transportation Industry (Including Infrastructure), submitted a written report (Attached: TPTWG/14/PLEN/5/SC/CT/rev.1) to the Plenary Session.

11. The Coordinator pointed out the key activities of the Steering Committee and advanced the following recommendations for acceptance by TPT-WG. These include:

Electric Commerce

1. note that the Electronic Commercial Messages Project has been completed;
2. note that the Project Steering Committee for Phase I of the Proposed New Electronic Commerce Project (TPT/14/SC/CT/3.1.a) is taking action to select a consultant to commence work in early 1999 in accordance with the Request for Proposed agreed by the Steering Committee;
3. note the Group on Electronic Commerce’s Collective Action Plan (TPT/14/SC/CT/3.1.c);
4. note that Australia will continue to represent the TPT-WG on the SOM Electronic Commerce Task Force; and
5. note the establishment of the TPT-WG web site.

Intermodal Task Force

1. note Intermodal Task Force’s revisions to the draft intermodal passenger survey.

Road Transport Harmonization Project

1. note the report of the RTHP Group (TPT/14/SC/CT/3.3);
2. note the 2nd progress of the consultant for TPT 02/98; and
3. note the Request for Proposal for RTHP Phase V Stage 1 (TPT/14/SC/CT/3.3.a).

Port Experts Group

1. recognize the importance of the Port Database project; and
2. note the Port Experts Group’s fine-tuned funding proposal on upgrading and relocating the Port Database.

Maritime Initiative

1. endorse the distribution of the Transparency Exercise Questionnaire to member economies and request economies to reply to the questionnaire eight weeks before the 15th TPT-WG so as to give sufficient time to review the result.

12. The Chair complimented the Coordinator and the Steering Committee on More Competitive Transportation Industry (Including Infrastructure) for the array of activities currently underway and for setting out a challenging work program. The Plenary noted the report with approval.

7. REPORT FROM THE STEERING COMMITTEE ON SAFE AND ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS (INCLUDING NEW TECHNOLOGIES)

13. The United States, the Coordinator of the Steering Committee on Safe and Environment-Friendly Transportation Systems (including New Technologies) (SCSE) submitted a written report of its October 21^st meeting to the Plenary Session (Attached: TPTWG/14/PLEN/SC/SE/rev.1).

14. The Coordinator highlighted the key activities and decisions of the Steering Committee and submitted a number of recommendations for acceptance by the TPT-WG. These include:

 Management Issues

1. note adoption of a working list of criteria which can be applied in rationalization of projects undertaken by the SCSE and its experts groups;
2. note New Zealand’s offer to represent the SCSE on the TPT-WG small committee that will receive progress and evaluation reports of TPT projects and assess the outcomes of these projects; and
3. note the SCSE’s decision to exchange information, as appropriate, with relevant Standing Committee representatives of the Airports Council International (ACI) – Pacific.

Intelligent Transportation Systems

1. agree to forward to Ministers by the end of 1998 the report of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Special Interest Group (ITS-SIG) on the Development of a Framework of Standards for ITS implementation and areas of ITS cooperation in the APEC region once it is finalized.

Maritime Safety

1. note progress of the Experts Group on Maritime Safety (EGMS) in developing a draft high priority safety list and proposed initiatives to address maritime safety issues in the region for consideration at TPT-WG 15 based on the responses to the maritime safety survey;
2. note progress on the Australian Safer Shipping in the Asia Pacific Region project, now a part of the EGMS work program, including selection of a contractor to commence work by March 1999;
3. endorse the SCSE’s decision to work with Korea in preparing a final proposal "To Identify Optimum Maritime Administrative Structures and Legal Framework for Safer Shipping in the Asia Pacific Region" for consideration at TPT-WG 15, ensuring that there would be no overlap with the existing safer shipping project;
4. note that the proposed Consultative Forum of Classification Societies and Maritime Administrations project would be reconsidered at the conclusion of Phase I of the Safer Shipping project, and would be under the oversight of the EGMS; and
5. endorse the submission of EGMS reports and work program to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Regional Cooperation on Oil Spills Preparedness and Response Arrangements

1. note that the final report was now available on the TPT website, and that the project was now considered completed;

Road Transportation Safety

1. note that the responses to the Road Safety Expert Group (RSEG) questionnaire will be finalized by TPT-WG 15, and agree to study the twelve major road transportation safety problems identified in the economy responses to date.

Urban Transport Forum

1. note the publication of the report from the second Urban Transport Forum; and
2. note progress on the development of a Best Practices Manual to address urban transport problems in the region to be completed by TPT-WG 15.

Satellite Navigation and Communications (SN&C) Systems Advisory Committee

1. note the progress on plans for a Forum on Intermodalism and Satellite-based Transportation Technologies that will be co-sponsored with the Intermodal Task Force, and will be held in Singapore on May 5-7,1999; and
2. endorse the recommendation that a Ministerial Statement on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) spectrum band allocation issue be developed for circulation to APEC Transportation Ministers prior to TPT-WG 15 and eventual transmittal to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and to the APEC Telecommunications Working Group.

Aviation Safety

1. note preliminary results of the survey on implementation of the recommendations of the former Group of Experts on Aviation Safety and Assistance (GEASA), and that a final report will be presented at TPT-WG 15.

Year 2000 Problem: Air Traffic Control and Airport Systems

1. note the results of the survey regarding the Year 2000 (Y2K) problem in air traffic control and airport systems among APEC economies which indicated that appropriate measures were being undertaken; and
2. endorse SCSE decision that further action is not needed and that the project is completed.

15. Australia, the Coordinator of the Steering Committee on Human Resources Development (Including, Training, Research, Education), submitted a report to the Plenary Session (Attached: TPTWG/14/Plen/7/SC/HRD/rev.1).

16. The Coordinator highlighted the key activities of the Steering Committee and put forward a number of recommendations for acceptance by TPT-WG.

These include:

Seafarers Training Project

1. agree that the revised RFP for Phase II of the Seafarers’ Training Project be submitted to the APEC Secretariat;
2. endorse the selection of China Maritime as the preferred more tender and that the outcome of the selection process be advised to the APEC Secretariat for establishment of a contract.

Women’s Participation in the Transportation Sector

1. endorse the circulation of the questionnaire "Increased Participation of Women in the Transport Sector" to all member economies, and request economies to respond to Canada by 31 January,1999.

STCW Seafarer Training

1. note progress on this project, and agree that necessary liaison with the APEC Secretariat occur to ensure that allocated funds remain available to complete the project.

Draft Work Program / Future Projects

1. note the HRD Steering Committee draft work program, and that it is to be revised intersessionally;
2. endorse the priority areas for future HRD work identified by the Steering Committee.

17. The Chair commended the Coordinator and Committee for an impressive array of activity and planned outcomes. The Committee’s recommendations were accepted by the Plenary as tabled.

8.   FUNDING OF NEW PROJECTS

18. The Working Group had no new projects for consideration of funding. The Plenary reaffirmed its endorsement of the fine-tuned revised funding proposal of the Port Data Base project which will be considered by the BAC at it’s January 9, 1999 meeting.

9. TABLING OF REPORTS BY MEMBER ECONOMIES

19. Reports were received from several member economies including; Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Chinese Taipei and Thailand.

10. OTHER ISSUES

20. The Working Group reviewed and approved (as revised) the TPT-WG Action Program.

11. 15^TH TPT-WG MEETING AND VENUE/FUTURE MEETINGS

1. It was confirmed that the TPT-WG-15 meeting will be held in Chile on April 19-23, 1999.

2. Hong Kong, China’s offer to host the TPT-WG-16 meeting in late 1999 was enthusiastically accepted.

3. Thailand indicated that it would explore the possibililty of hosting the Third Ministerial Meeting in early 2000, and report back to the next TPT-WG meeting.

12. APPROVAL OF CHAIR’S REPORT