LOGISTICS - Malaysia's Roadmap

Monday August 22, 2011

Logistics roadmap will benefit the region

NANNING: Malaysia’s Roadmap for Development of the Logistics Services Industry will see a flourish of trade opportunities in the Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation (PBGEC) member countries, according to Deputy Transport Minister Jelaing Mersat.

He said the roadmap commissioned by the Malaysian Logistics Council and the EPU of the Prime Minister’s Department contained recommendations on improving performance of ports, shipping, land transport and freight transportation.

He said the Transport Ministry would play an active role in the roll-out of the plan which would include strategic initiatives to strengthen capital capacity and also to review and revamp regulatory and intuitional framework.

“The ministry will also look into legislations and international conventions involving shipping, liability regimes, air and surface transport to strengthen our governance, regulatory functions and ensure international compliance,” he told Bernama on Saturday.

“With the roadmap, the transportation networks will be connected within the Asean and PBG countries. This will further develop investment, trade and economic cooperation in the region and form cluster of industries, accelerate economic growth in the PBGEC.” – Bernama

Jelaing attended the 6th PBGEC Forum, which concluded here on Friday.

He said Malaysia would play its role in transportation infrastructure to improve the connectivity between Asean and China.

“We are doing everything that we can to speed up the connection, such as the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link.”

The roadmap for the Development of the Logistics Services Industry is an Asean economic blueprint signed by all Asean leader at the Asean Summit, which was attended by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2007.

Meanwhile, Jelaing said the Transport Ministry would evaluate and implement relevant strategic initiatives under the roadmap which whould envision the development of world class freight logistics system, including strengthening the role of ports and shipping to support the country’s economic growth and development.

“We will liaise and consult with various stakeholders in the industry through the focus in moving the agenda on freight logistics forward,” he said.

On maritime cooperation, Jelaing said China-Asean Maritime Consultation Mechanism is in the midst of exploring cooperative opportunities.

Under the mechanism, he said both countries conducted numerous activities, including the meeting on Tide, Current, and Wind Measurement Project of Malacca and Singapore Straits (March and April) and the Workshop on Port Facility Security in July. BERNAMA