Asean Connectivity Symposium In Bali Next Week

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya JAKARTA, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- About 200 participants are expected to attend the two-day Asean Connectivity Symposium at the Bali International Convention Centre, Bali, beginning Nov 8. The symposium will provide an opportunity to follow the latest developments in the implementation of the Master Plan on Asean Connectivity and provides a platform for Asean to engage in a dialogue with, and engage key stakeholders in the implementation process. The symposium is one of the flagship outreach activities of the Asean Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) this year, under the chairmanship of Indonesia, the Asean Secretariat said in a statement here on Wednesday. “This symposium is held at an opportune time since we just crossed the one-year mark of the adoption of the Master Plan on Asean Connectivity in October last year. "It would be the platform for both public and private sectors to exchange information on possible means of cooperation in the implementation of the Master Plan,” said Ambassador Ngurah Swajaya, current Chair of and Indonesia’s representative to the ACCC. Upon the adoption of the Master Plan on Asean Connectivity by the 17th Asean Summit in Hanoi last year, the ACCC is currently implementing 15 priority projects. They include the completion of the Asean Highway Network, Singapore-Kunming Rail Link, Feasibility study on the Roll-on/Roll-off Network and Short Sea Shipping, Operationalisation of all National Single Windows and Easing Visa Requirements for Asean Nationals. Several Asean Dialogue Partners, other external parties and the private sector have shown strong interest to participate in the implementation of the Master Plan through resources mobilisation and capacity building. Themed 'Enhancing Asean Connectivity to Support Asean Community 2015', the symposium is co-organised by Indonesia with the Asean Secretariat and the Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia. -- BERNAMA