Jakarta, Indonesia 23 September 2020

ARISE Plus (ariseplus.asean.org) has supported ASEAN in the implementation of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport (AFAMT).    To prepare for operational implementation, ARISE Plus has developed an AFAMT pilot strategy in conjunction with ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat, under which a number of AFAMT pilot transactions will take place in October 2020.

The participating countries in the AFAMT pilot are Thailand and Vietnam.  AFAMT Pilot Teams have been established in both countries, consisting of Government transport officials, multimodal transport operators (MTO) and freight forwarder associations TIFFA (Thai International Freight Forwarders Association) and VLA (Vietnam Logistics Business Association).

A major milestone was reached in the preparations for AFAMT implementation with the adoption of the ‘Implementation Framework’ of AFAMT by the ASEAN Transport Ministers at the 25th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting (ATM) held on 14 November 2019 in Hanoi, Viet Nam.  ARISE Plus supported the development of this framework.  The Implementation Framework of AFAMT will contribute to meeting the milestones set under the ASEAN Transport Strategic Plan 2016-2025 / Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan (KLTSP).

Additional support has been provided by ARISE Plus in the analysis of national multimodal transport laws and regulations in selected ASEAN Member States, the development of a common ASEAN liability scheme for MTOs and AFAMT Implementing Guidelines, and the production of a comparative study on multimodal transport between ASEAN and the EU.

The AFAMT Pilot will provide a firm basis for the full operationalisation of this important agreement in ASEAN.