Enhancing ASEAN's Connectivity

11. Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity "From Plan to Implementation"

11 Master Plan on asean ConneCtivity “FroM Plan to iMPleMentation” somsak pipoppinyo introduction: Concept and Development of asean Connectivity asean leaders first discussed the concept of asean connectivity at the 15th asean summit in october 2009. the leaders observed that asean has great potential to physically anchor itself as the tran­ sportation, Ict, and tourism hub of this region. enhanced connectivity between asean member states will encourage competitive growth; facilitate economies of agglomeration and integrated production networks; enhance intra­regional trade; and attract investments. at the conclusion, the asean leader called for development of an asean master plan on Regional connectivity. the task was assigned to the High level task Force on asean connectivity (HltF­ac), in consultation and cooperation with relevant international organizations — the asian development Bank (adB), economic Research Institute 166 Somsak Pipoppinyo for asean and east asia (eRIa), United nations economic and social commission for asia and the pacific (escap) and the World Bank. In developing the master plan on asean connectivity (mpac), the HltF­ac met five times from march to october 2011. the Hltc­ ac looked at the state of regional cooperation in asean, including initiatives at the subregional level, in the three dimensions of physical, institutional and people­to­people connectivity. It has been recognized that asean had put in place numerous programmes and initiatives, and some good progress had been made, for building and enhancing regional connectivity. In doing so, the Hltc­ac is able to do a mapping of what are the ongoing programmes, projects and initiatives that are happening both within and outside asean, draw the complementarities and synergies, identify gaps and develop strategies and actions. the master plan thus aims to consolidate and provide a more focused approach to these efforts in order to enhance regional connectivity. In the elaboration, the adB, eRIa, escap and World Bank had given valuable inputs and support until the master plan on asean connectivity (mpac) was completed and adopted at the 17th asean summit in october 2011. to implement the various initiatives under the mpac, asean leaders called on external partners, multilateral development banks, regional and global funds, the private sector and other parties to take part in realizing the asean connectivity. Benefits of asean Connectivity and importance of its Master Plan enhancing intra­asean connectivity will facilitate asean community Building and reinforce asean’s centrality, particularly for its driving role in charting the evolving regional architecture. moreover, enhanced regional connectivity will assist asean member states to achieve economic growth; attract investments; promote deeper ties among asean people and foster cultural and historical bonds. Besides, enhancing asean connectivity may also bring about greater effectiveness of the web of asean­centred Ftas, and speed up the development of the asean Regional comprehensive economic partnership (Rcep). adoption of the mpac demonstrates the foresight of leaders to help asean stay focus and on track towards asean community 2015, Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity “From Plan to Implementation” 167 and to keep the momentum going beyond 2015. It also acts as a string that links and ties the three pillars of the asean community together — asean political­security community (apsc), asean economic community (aec) and asean socio­cultural community (ascc). these connections would be forged through the three dimensions: physical, institutional and people­to­people connectivity. linking various action plans developed from a sectoral perspective, the master plan intends to connect the dots and provide greater impetus and synergies to various plans through multi­sectoral cooperation. It also accords great importance and extends its focus to look at subregional initiatives like the Greater mekong sub­region (Gms); Brunei darussalam, Indonesia, malaysia, and the philippines­east asean Growth area (BImp­eaGa); and the Indonesia, malaysia and thailand­Growth triangle (Imt­Gt). the master plan is both a strategic document for achieving asean connectivity and a plan of action to implement various measures and actions to enhance the connection of asean through physical, institutional and people­to­people linkages. the strategies and key actions to achieve regional connectivity in asean involve measures to ensure an efficient and competitive transport system such as the completion of key land transport components i.e. the asean Highway network, the singapore Kunming Rail link (sKRl), an asean single shipping market, an asean single aviation market, multimodal transport corridors, Ict infrastructure and services, regional energy infrastructure projects, and developing strategy for inland waterways. the institutional and people­ to­people connectivity strategies include transport...