SENIOR transport officials of the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) reaffirmed their commitment to further liberalize the transportation industry among APEC member economies at a meeting in Manila last week.
“In this regard, we support APEC’s work to strengthen Regional Economic Integration in the APEC region through promoting free and open trade and investment,” a document from the meeting said.
“We urge all APEC member economies to recognize the long-term benefits of open markets and economic integration, as well as the importance of fair and equitable opportunities and to continue to work towards agreements or other means to achieve air services liberalization to enhance mobility of people and goods in the region,” it stressed.
APEC has agreed to work on eight transportation projects, including the $100,000 land transport security and commuters’ advocacy protocol to be implemented by the Philippine Office for Transportation Security.
Other projects are related to liberalization and facilitation of transport services; seamless transportation systems; aviation safety and security; land transport and mass transit safety and security; maritime safety and security; sustainable transport and industry involvement.
