Overview of Transport Operational Connectivity,

Challenges for Integrated Transport,

Challenges to Seamless Border Crossing and

National Strategies for Transport Facilitation

Workshop on Strengthening Transport Operational Connectivity among CLMV-T

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

25 September 2017Aye Aye Hla

Joint Secretary of NTFC

Ministry of Transport and Communications

Myanmar

Contents

➢ Introduction

➢ Overview of transport operational connectivity

• Current status of cross-border transport facilitation of International

Transport Agreements including implementation

• Regional Connectivity

➢ National Strategies (Plans) for Transport Development

➢ Current use of SWI and SSI at the border crossings

➢ Challenges to transport facilitation including customs formalities

Introduction

National data

Population - 52 millions

Land Area - 676,578 sq.km

Arable - 19.2%

Coastal Line - 2800 km

Road Length - 148690 km

ESCAP Membership - 19 April 1948

And also Myanmar is a member of such sub-regional networks as ASEAN,

Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), BIMSTEC, the ASEAN Mekong Basin

Development Cooperation (AMBDC), the Bangladesh-China-India-

Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor and the Mekong-Ginga Cooperation

(MGC). And also involved in the Tran-Asian Railways and Tran-Asian

Highways networks.

• Myanmar is in a geographically strategic position and

has been identified as an important transport link to

South and Southeast Asia.

• Myanmar is now regarded as a newly emerging

destination for business on account of its strategic

geographical location, moderate climate fit for the

cultivation of various crops, huge market size, and high

production output at low costs.

• Myanmar has recognized the importance of improving

its domestic transport network, including roads that

connect to the sub-regional corridors. Our country also

has an extensive rail network, an important deep sea

ports, and a domestic river transport network.

• Myanmar has many proven initiatives and efforts to participate

the regional framework agreements on the cross border movement

of goods and people and transport facilitation as a member of

regional networks.

• Myanmar has no bilateral and trilateral traffic rights agreements

at the Regional level for the time being. Myanmar-Thai Bilateral

IICBTA MoU under the GMS CBTA is yet to be signed.

• Myanmar possess a great potential for the enhancement of trade

and transport facilitation measures under the GMS program to

promote cross border movement of goods, people, services, and

economic integration as well.

Overview of Transport Operational Connectivity

Framework Agreements as Legal Instrument for Cross Border and Transit Transport

GMS-CBTA; Greater Mekong Subregion Cross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement

AFAGIT; ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit

AFAIST; ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Inter-State Transport

AFAMT; ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of

Multimodal Transport

ACBTP; ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Cross-Border Transport of Passenger (yet to be signed)

No. Corridor Route Points of Entry/Exit

1. North-South Economic

Corridor

Mongla-Kengtong-

Mongpayak-Talay-Tachilek

Mongla

Tachilek

2. East-West Economic

Corridor

Myawady-Kawkareik-

Eindu-Hpaan-Thatom-Bilin-

Kyaihto-Thizayat-Waw-

Payagyi

Myawady

3. Southern Economic

Corridor

Hteekhee-Sinbyudaing-Myita-

Hermyigyi-Nabule (Dawei

SEZ)

Hteekhee

4. Northern Economic

Corridor

Tamu-Kalawa-Ye-U-Shwebo-

Mandalay-Hsipaw-Lashio-

Muse

Tamu

Muse

5. Western Economic

Corridor

Mandalay-Yangon-Thilawa -

Regional Connectivity; GMS Economic Corridor in Myanmar

Kawkareik-Myawady Road Portion in EWEC

10

GMS Priority Missing Rail Links

Link 1:CAM-THA

Poipet/Border Bridge/

Aranyaprathet

Link 2:CAM-VIE

Snoul/ Loc Ninh

Link 3:MYA-THA

Dawei/ Banpunamron

Link 4:MYA-PRC

Muse/Ruili

Link 5:LAO-PRC

Boten/Mohan

Link 6:LAO-VIE

Thakhek/Mu

Gia/

Vung Ang

Link 7:THA-LAO-

VIEChongmek/

Vangtau

Lao BaoLink 8:LAO-CAM

Dong Kralor/ Voun Kam

Link 9:VIE-PRC

Hekou/Lao Cai

Sr.

No.

Route

names

Length

( Km)

Directly

Connect to

1 AH 1 1653 India , Thailand

2 AH 2 788 Thailand (Lao)

3 AH 3 88 China

4 AH 14 455 China

5 AH 111 240 AH-2 to AH -14

6 AH 112 1122 Thailand

7 AH 123 141 Thailand

Total 4487

ASEAN Highways

ASEAN Highways

ASEAN Highway - 1

ASEAN Highway - 2

ASEAN Highway - 3

ASEAN Highway - 14

ASEAN Highway - 111

ASEAN Highway - 112

ASEAN Highway – 123

Tamu-Mandalay-Meiktila-Yangon-Bago-Payagyi-Thaton-Myawady Road

Meiktila-Loilen-Kengtung-Tachileik Road

Mongla-Kengtung Road

Mandalay-Hsipaw-Muse Road

Hsipaw-Loilen Road

Thaton-Mawlamyine-Thanbyuzayat-Ye- Dawei-

Lehnya-Khamaukgyi-Kawthaung Road + Lehnya-

Khongloi Road

Dawei- Htee Khee Road

Tamu (India-Myanmar Border) – Kyigone – Kalewa –Yargyi –Chaungma

– Lingataw – Pakakku - Kyauk padaung (Yongon-Mandalay Expressway)

Thigone - Bawnetgyi – Phayargyi – Thaton – Hpaan – Kawkareik -

Myawady (Thai -Myanmar border)

1. Tamu-Yargyi Road section is aided by Government of India

2. Yargyi-Eindu Road section is conducted by Myanmar

3. Eindu-Kawkareik Road section Portion aided by ADB

4. Kawkareik-Myawady Road section is aided by Government of

Thailand

India-Myanmar-Thai Trilateral Highway (1360 km)

India-Myanmar-Thai

Trilateral Highway

(1300 km)

1. Portion

aided by

Government

of India

(Tamu-Yargyi)

3. Portion aided by ADB

(Eindu-Kawkareik)

Alternative ways

of Trilateral

Highways

2 lanes, 5.5 m

Upgraded by India (BRO)

from Tamu to Kalewa

FS. By

UN-ESCAP

DPR by India(RITES)

Chaung Ma-Yinmabin-

Pale-Lingataw Portion

4. Portion aided by

Government of

Thailand

(Kawkareik-

Myawady)

2. Portion

conducted by

Myanmar

(Yargyi-Eindu)

Tamu-Kyigone-Kalaywa = 160.0 Km

Kalaywa-Yargyi-Chaungma = 159.5 Km

Chaungma-Pale-Lingadaw = 73.0 Km

Lingadaw- Pakokku = 77.5 Km

Pakokku-Bagan-Kyaukpadaung

-Theegone = 154.0 Km

Theegone-Naypyitaw-Bawnatgyi = 393.0 Km

Bawnatgyi-Payagyi-Thaton = 84.5 Km

Thaton-Hpa an = 52.00 Km

Hpa an – Myawady = 146.0 Km

Total =1299.5 Km

National Strategies (Plans) for Transport Development

➢National Comprehensive Development Plan; NCDP

➢National Transport Master Plan; MYT-Plan

➢Myanmar Transport Sector Policy Statement

➢Master Plan for Arterial Roads Network Development

➢National Logistics Master Plan; MYL-Plan

➢National Strategy for Rural Roads and Access

National Comprehensive Development Plan; NCDP; Ministry of

Planning and Finance prepared for the long-term strategies for the

Myanmar economic development and investment plans.

National Strategies (Plans) for Transport Development (Cont;)

➢National Transport Master Plan (2015-2020) MYT-Plan; JICA Conducted the study.

➢Myanmar Transport Sector Policy Statement; ADB conducted the study and Policy Notes publication was launched in July 2016. The

Transport Policy Statement is incorporated as part of the National

Transport Master Plan.

➢Master Plan for Arterial Roads Network Development (2016-2040); KOICA conducted the study with counterpart of the Ministry of Construction

➢ National Logistics Master Plan: MYL-Plan is under processing by the study team of JICA

➢ National Strategy for Rural Roads and Access (2016-2030); conducted by JICA.

17

Myanmar National Transport

Master Plan; MYT-Plan

❖The processes for the formulation

of Master Plan was started in

December, 2012 and completed in

2014 by the JICA with the

assistance of Japan Government .

❖MoTC coordinated and cooperated

the transport sector related

ministries and agencies for the

MYT-Plan. The Ministries of

Transport, Rail Transportation and

Construction are integrated in all

process.

❖The approval from the Cabinet has

secured to implement the Master

Plan.

Monitoring and Coordinating National Committees

The President Office has formed the National Committees as follow:

National Transport Sector Development and Implementation Projects

Committee

National Transport Facilitation Committee

Minister for the Ministry of Transport and Communications is

chairperson in those committees. NTDP and NTFC will be monitoring

and coordinating the Transport and Trade Facilitation matters both in

domestic and regional level and also on the implementation of the

investment projects as MYT-Plan.

A

B

C

D

E

G

H

J

K

L

20

10 Major Corridors

A Central North-South Corridor

B East - West Corridor

C Northern Corridor

D Mandalay - Tamu Corridor

E Second East - West Corridor

G East - West Bridging Corridor

H Delta Area Network

J Southern Area Development Corridor

K Western North-South Corridor

L Eastern North - South Corridor

Priority corridors for urgentinvestment

Corridor-Based Development Approach

❖The processes for the formulation of

Master Plan started in December, 2012

and completed in 2014 by the assistance of

JICA.

Current status of the use of SSI/SWI at the Border crossing and

Customs related new technologies

➢ Current use of Single Window Inspection and Single Stop Inspection for

transport facilitation at the border crossings

Single Window Inspection and Single Stop Inspection; SSI/SWI was

initially intended to be implemented in December 2017. However it can only

be conducted after the completion of the Border Control Facilities; BCF at

the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge 2.

➢ Electronic seal, RFID, Cargo Tracking System, Satellite Positioning

Systems for Transport Facilitation

The use of Electronic Seals were tested with 2 vehicles operating from Thai-

Myanmar Border through Myawady to Mawlamyaing on 31.3.2017 and with

40 vehicles operating from Thai- Myanmar Border through Myawady to

Thilawa Special Economic Zone on 22.5.2017 respectively. Currently, the

Electronic Seal are not yet being used in the Country.

National strategies ( plans ) for transit including customs clearance

Exemption from Physical Inspection, Bond Deposit, and Escort : Subject to theconditions laid down below, the cargoes carried cross border shall as a general rulebe exempted from routine physical customs inspection en route, customs escorts inthe national territory, and the deposit of a bond as guarantee for customs duties:

❖ Document Check and External Inspection : The motor vehicle togetherwith the cargo and the Transit and Inland Customs Clearance Documentshall be presented to the Customs Authorities en route only for processingdocumentation and external inspection and control of the cargocompartment.

❖ Exceptional Physical Customs Inspection : Customs Authorities mayhowever, by way of exception and in particular when they suspectirregularities, subject the cargo to a physical inspection en route.

❖ Tracking of Vehicle / Cargo : Customs Authorities may apply appropriatemeasures ( e.g., electronic means. Global Positioning System, Informationand Communication Technology ) to monitor the cargo movement, withoutinterference in, delay of, or any additional requirement for the transportoperation.

Challenges for streamlining customs formalities related to movement

of goods and vehicles and suggested solutions.

The following minimum services, facilities and personnel available for cargoes

can be made:

Cargo Inspections

• Hard surface areas and covered shelters from the weather condition for

loading and unloading transshipment, and inspection of the cargo

• Warehousing facilities storage room ( including refrigerated space ) and a

container deport (among other things, for storing the cargo pending the

disclosure of result of sanitary or veterinary inspection or for quarantine

purposes) to assure the safe storage of the merchandise without risk of

damage decay, or loss

• Customs warehouses; plant quarantine and disinfection facilities; and

staging point, allowing to rest feed, and water and if required unload and

accommodate consignment of live animals and facilities for live animals

isolation.

Challenges for streamlining customs formalities related to movement of

goods and vehicles and suggested solutions

Vehicles Inspections: The following minimum services facilities can be made:

• The personnel availibilities for vehicle repair and maintenance services

• Fuel station, a parking lot on hard surface and facilities for vehicles

disinfection.

Crew and Passenger :

• Facilities for the purpose of searching travelers

• Rest areas, sanitary equipments ( toilets ), and medical first aid.

Needed Equipments :

We will endeavor to keep up with technological developments and to

implement at their earliest convenience. The modernized and advanced border

crossing techniques such as ; machine reading of passport, X-ray machine for

goods and container inspection, automatic vehicle identification ( license plate

readers ), and bar code readers for other documents.

Challenges for the Cross- Border Crossing

❖ Less experience of Transport Operators in cross border

transport

❖ Less infrastructure development and Border Control

Facilities

❖ Less Capacity Building in Border Management and

Formalities

❖ Less familiarity with international best practices for Cross-

Border Transport Operation

Assistance needed

Myanmar Customs is doing every possible things to build our

capacity for effective and efficient implementation of the sub-

regional bilateral road transport.

To accelerate the successful implementation of the sub-regional

bilateral road transport and planned initiatives on Transport

Facilitation, the we would like to have external assistance in the

infrastructure development, border management facilities,

communications and coordination machanism concerning the

prevention and control of international transmission of disease at

designated Ground Crossing points, capacity building areas and

consultation in the bilateral negotiation.

We really appreciated the efforts of UNESCAP on the “Enhancing

Efficiency and Effectiveness of Cross-Border transport on the Asian

Highway Network” project and the Handbook on the requirements

for Cross-Border Transport along Asian Highway.

Thank you