ASEAN Ambassadors at ITF

The Southeast Asia region is seeing an acceleration of economic growth and social progress. In this context, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries play an important role in the stability and economic development of the region. 

Since his election as ITF Secretary-General in 2017, Young Tae Kim has sought to achieve greater representation of ASEAN countries in the ITF’s membership and activities. To this aim, Ambassadors and representatives from ASEAN member countries Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand joined Secretary-General Kim for a lunchtime briefing on ITF at the OECD headquarters in Paris, France, on 29 March 2018. The meeting explored areas where ITF's global transport sector perspective could assist the diverse policy dialogues taking place across the ASEAN region.

At the meeting, Mr Kim expressed ITF's wish to become a truly global platform. He opened discussions to probe ASEAN countries' interests in participating in ITF activities. He presented opportunities for ASEAN countries to engage with the ITF's Annual Summit. This could include participation in Summit debates and the possibility of launching an initiative or project to a global audience. Mr Kim focused specifically on the 2019 Summit of "Transport Connectivity for Regional Integration", under the Presidency of Korea. He provided an overview of the 2018-2020 Summit trilogy theme of "Transport Enabling Sustainable Development". Mr Kim also referenced two ITF work steams of potential interest to ASEAN countries: the Enhancing Connectivity in Central Asia Project, and the Vietnam Logistic Statistical System Project.