ASEAN works to boost seamless intra-bloc logistics connectivity
The ASEAN Federation of Forwarders Associations (AFFA) held the annual 33rd meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on December 2 to discuss the facilitation of goods transportation via inter-governmental cooperation in the region.
Containers of goods are loaded at a port in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The ASEAN Federation ofForwarders Associations (AFFA) held the annual 33rd meeting in PhnomPenh, Cambodia, on December 2 to discuss the facilitation of goods transportationvia inter-governmental cooperation in the region.
AFFA Chairman Alvin Chua said the governments of ASEANcountries have given high priority to developing logistics services in terms ofboth infrastructure and trade facilitation strategies, and to enhancing intra-blocconnectivity.
Recently, the AFFA has witnessed progress in railway and multimodaltransportation as seen in the implementation of the New International Land - SeaTrade Corridor, which connects many ASEAN countries with China and promotestrans-national rail transport, thus enhancing the possibility of linking ASEANmembers with Europe, he noted.
He held that with the existing transport and logistics infrastructure,it is an urgent need for ASEAN governments to consider promoting seamlessintra-bloc logistics connectivity.
Theinclusion of the ASEAN Tariff Finder in the AFFA’s digital platform, thecreation of the ASEAN Authorised Economic Operator programme, and the promotionof the ASEAN Customs Transit System will provide optimum conditions forcross-border trade among member countries. Meanwhile, the recently launchedcross-border payment system can step up financial integration and help the blocmove closer to the target of economic connectivity, according to the AFFAleader.
The delegation of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association at the 33rd AFFA meeting (Photo: VNA)
Talkingto the Vietnam News Agency, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Logistics BusinessAssociation (VLA) Dao Trong Khoa noted sustainable development and digitaltransformation are among current trends and receive attention from the AFFA,whose working group is focusing on training to ensure its members are fullyaware of digital transformation and green transition. The AFFA is also takingconcrete measures such as developing carbon meters to design an emissionreduction roadmap.
The meeting also saw the presence of logistics associations ofnon-ASEAN countries like China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, providing anopportunity for logistics service suppliers to seek long-term partnerships inthe logistics industry and supply chain management./.
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Containers of goods are loaded at a port in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA) 
The delegation of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association at the 33rd AFFA meeting (Photo: VNA) 
