TPT/17/HOD/7.1

APEC Transportation Working Group

Strategic Direction Paper

 Lead Shepherd
(New Zealand)

Strategic Direction Paper

One of the main issues arising from TPT-WG/16 in November 1999 was the need to develop a Strategic Direction Paper for the TPT-WG based on the outcomes of the Brainstorming Session that was held at TPT-WG/16. It was agreed at the Shepherds/HODs/SCCs meeting that the ideas expressed during the Strategic Directions Brainstorming Session would be incorporated into the draft Strategic Directions Paper circulated prior to the meeting. It was agreed that Canada, as outgoing Lead Shepherd economy, would update the Strategic Directions Paper and it would be circulated in advance of TPT-WG/17 in Singapore on 27-31 March 2000.

The attached Strategic Directions Paper reflects Canada's work, with only minor editorial change.

Economies will have the opportunity to discuss this draft of the Strategic Directions Paper and, if necessary, suggest further amendments when it is considered for approval (as a 'decision item') at the Shepherds/HODs/SCCs meeting at TPT-WG/17. It would then be approved by the TPT-WG Plenary, subject to any amendments that may need to be made.

Comments on this paper in advance of TPT-WG/17 are welcome.

Introduction:

The Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Transportation Working Group (TPT-WG) was established in 1991. Its Operational Plan has developed progressively since then, based on priority action areas identified at a series of meetings of APEC Economic Leaders and Transportation Ministers.

In May 1999, the TPT-WG completed a "Mandate Review" exercise, whereby it analysed its accomplishments in relation to its stated goals. At the same time, the Working Group decided to develop a Strategic Direction Paper, which would define the principles on which its future work should be developed.

The goal of the Strategic Direction Paper is not to define new project areas. The Mandate Review exercise revealed that the TPT-WG has a clearly defined work program based on mutual agreement among Economic Leaders and Transportation Ministers, and that it has been largely successful in the past in carrying out this program. Rather, the purpose of the Strategic Direction Paper is to allow the TPT-WG to examine its strengths and weaknesses, and thereby define how it might more effectively comply in future with Leaders' and Ministers' directives, achieve progress in implementing APEC's goals, and serve the region's communities and business/private sector.

To assist in the development of the Strategic Direction Paper, a one-day "Brainstorming Session" was held on November 8, 1999, at the 16^th TPT-WG meeting in Hong Kong, China. This session allowed all economies the opportunity to provide ideas and input for the paper.

What follows is a synopsis of the main ideas expressed during the Brainstorming Session at TPT-WG 16, and a description of the principles subsequently identified to guide the future development of the TPT-WG Operational Plan. These principles do not represent a radical break with the Working Group's past activities; rather, they provide a framework within which the TPT-WG will be able to more efficiently meet its stated objectives and serve the APEC community.

Strategic Direction Brainstorming Session, November 8, 1999:

The Brainstorming Session was based on two main points of focus, namely (1) how the TPT-WG might work to better meet the goals of APEC; and (2) how it might work to better serve the needs of the private sector in the Asia-Pacific Region. In addition, in preparing for the Brainstorming Session, the Lead Shepherd asked all economies to consider areas in which the Working Group should continue to work, where new initiatives should be begun, and where sufficient work had already been done (see Appendix A, the Brainstorming Session agenda).

The session benefited from the participation of Ambassador Timothy Hannah, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat; Sir Gordon Wu, APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) member for Hong Kong, China; Professor Chris Kissling, Co-ordinator of the Pacific Economic Co-operation Council Task Force on Transportation; and government and private sector delegates from 20 APEC economies. Prior to the session, the Lead Shepherd distributed a background paper to all economies providing a synopsis of the Leaders' and Ministers' directives, which make up the TPT-WG's Operational Plan, and of the TPT-WG's actions to date in relation to these.

The following is a summary of some of the main ideas that emerged during the Strategic Direction Brainstorming Session:

The APEC Process:

The overarching objective of APEC is to build an Asia-Pacific community based on rising living standards, sustainable development and the promotion of all economies' economic and cultural strengths. The TPT-WG must keep this important objective in mind as it continues to develop its Operational Plan. An essential element in achieving this objective is the Bogor Declaration's goals of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

Implementation, not visioning:

The APEC Executive Director pointed out that APEC, in general, has entered its "implementation phase", meaning that all fora should focus on implementing concrete activities, as opposed to elaborating "visions". This means that business people and the general public within the APEC region want to see specific results, such as lowering transaction costs, increasing consumer choice, and assisting institutional and human capacity building through Economic and Technical Co-operation (ECOTECH). Thus, all APEC fora must ensure that they have clear paths leading to concrete deliverables and provide value for resources expended. They should also avoid placing too great an emphasis on conceptualisation exercises leading to vague outcomes.

Avoiding Isolation:

Every APEC forum must work to ensure co-ordination with, and avoid duplication of effort with, other APEC fora and international organisations. It was pointed out at the Brainstorming Session that, in particular, there is room for increased co-ordination between the TPT-WG and other APEC and international fora on such issues as e-commerce, human resources development, infrastructure development, environmentally sustainable development, and customs procedures, among others.

Developing Capacity:

There is ever-increasing emphasis within APEC on capacity building, both with respect to human resources and institutions. Given the recent approval by Leaders of the Framework for the Integration of Women in APEC, the Working Group should ensure that it focuses on the role of women in the region's transportation sector.

Linking with business:

The TPT-WG Operational Plan will only remain relevant as long as it continues to assist the business/private sector in ensuring the efficient and safe movement of goods, people and information throughout the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, business will only participate in TPT-WG activities as long as there is an evident short-term benefit from such participation.

The private sector in the Asia-Pacific region continues to place emphasis on minimising bureaucracy and administrative delays in the movement of goods across borders.

Harmonisation:

TPT-WG can support the Bogor Goals through the harmonisation of standards in all modes of transport and in information technology applications, and ensuring that "level playing fields" exist in regulatory and operational environments between modes of transport.

Information Technology:

Innovation in information technology, particularly e-commerce, will be an important element in the future development of the transportation sector. Potential areas of focus for the TPT-WG in this area include (1) the transfer of knowledge concerning the application of this technology; and (2) the adjustment and harmonisation of national and international regulatory environments to accommodate e-commerce. The TPT-WG should continue to consider information technology issues, in conjunction with other APEC fora and international organisations.

Megacities:

As living standards rise in the Asia-Pacific region, urban traffic congestion will increasingly be a major concern, especially in large urban centres. This topic will be of continued interest to the APEC economies, and the TPT-WG will need to focus on it.

Based on the ideas exchanged at the Brainstorming Session, the following Principles of Action have been developed to guide the TPT-WG in its future work.

Principles for Action: A Strategic Direction for the TPT-WG:

Based on a series of Leaders' and Ministers' meetings, the TPT-WG has a clearly defined set of priority action areas. Furthermore, since its inception, the Working Group has been generally successful in achieving concrete action in relation to the directives of the APEC Leaders and Transportation Ministers.

The overall goal of the TPT-WG is to facilitate the continued improvement of living standards throughout the APEC community of economies by contributing to free and open trade and investment; human resources development; and the safe, secure and environmentally-friendly movement of goods and persons throughout the region. In order to continue to be a positive force in the Asia-Pacific region, the Working Group must ensure that it remains firm in the pursuit of these objectives, while carrying out Leaders' and Ministers' directives as efficaciously as possible.

The following principles, organised into four general themes, should guide the TPT-WG's future work:

I. Encouraging More Competitive Transportation Industry

• The principal goal of the TPT-WG is to achieve the Bogor Declaration goals of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific Region.
• The TPT-WG will continue to pursue the harmonisation of standards in all modes of transport and in information technology applications, as well as the increased assurance of "level playing fields" in regulatory and operational environments between modes of transport and economies.
• The TPT-WG recognises the importance of electronic commerce to the region's transportation industry, and will seek to facilitate it, working in conjunction with other APEC fora and international organisations.

• The TPT-WG can make a major contribution to facilitating trade and investment in the APEC region by ensuring safe, secure and environmentally friendly systems and environments for the provision of services.
• The TPT-WG recognises that urban congestion is an increasing problem in the Asia-Pacific region.

• The TPT-WG will continue to emphasise capacity development in general, and human resources development in particular.
• Related to this, the Working Group will work to implement the "Framework for the Integration of Women in APEC."

IV. Working Better

• All TPT-WG Project/Experts Groups and activities should reflect directives received from either the APEC Leaders, Trade and Foreign Ministers, or the Ministers of Transport.
• All TPT-WG Project/Experts Groups and activities should have as a goal the implementation of specific activities, involving clearly stated paths leading to concrete short-term deliverables. Upon completion of this goal, the continued existence of the Project/Experts Group or activity should be reviewed.
• The TPT-WG will strive to ensure that APEC-funded activities are executed in such a manner as to ensure the greatest value for resources expended.
• In further developing its Operational Plan, the TPT-WG should seek to focus more closely on fewer activities, thereby ensuring more concrete outcomes.
• The TPT-WG will strive to incorporate official observers, guests and economy business/private sector representatives into all of its activities, to the extent possible.
• Every effort should be made to ensure co-ordination with, and avoid the duplication of efforts with, other APEC fora and international organisations.

Conclusion:

The Mandate Review exercise revealed that the TPT-WG has been largely successful in fulfilling its objectives, which are based on directives received from APEC Leaders and Transportation Ministers. The purpose of this Strategic Direction Paper is not to chart a departure from the Working Group's established Operational Plan, but to identify means by which the TPT-WG can remain effective in its future activities.

Based on ideas presented at the Strategic Direction Paper Brainstorming Session at TPT-WG 16, the Working Group has developed a series of Principles for Action. These principles should be considered in all future execution and development of the TPT-WG's Operational Plan, with the goal of ensuring that the Working Group's activities continue to be efficient and serve the goals of the APEC community.

 Appendix A

• Where do we go from here?
• How might the TPT-WG ensure that clearly defined strategic directions and integration are incorporated into all new project proposals and overall work?
• How might the TPT-WG better organise itself in order to more effectively achieve its outcomes?
• How might the TPT-WG increase the extent to which it works with other APEC fora?
• How can the TPT-WG increase the overall participation of all of its member economies?

This page was last updated on 12 March, 2008