Governance of Transport Corridors in OIC Member States:
Challenges, Cases and Policy Lessons
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The specific objectives relating the ‘seamless logistics’ are:
1. To strengthen ASEAN competitiveness through enhanced trade routes and logistics;
2. To enhance supply chain efficiency to addressing key chokepoints.
Also, the ASEAN Charter (latest version 2016) has amongst the purposes of the ASEAN Charter “to
create a single market and production base which is stable, prosperous, highly competitive and
economically integrated with effective facilitation tor trade and investment inwhich there is free
flow of goods, services and investment; facilitated movement of business persons, professionals,
talents and labour; and freer flow of capital’.
Corridor founders
The founders establishing ASEAN on 8 August 1967 were Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore
and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam then joined on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR
and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999.
Transport corridors are incorporated in national strategies and plans
The transport corridors are not always incorporated in national strategies and plans. This is one of the
major challenges of ASEAN. Some Member States are linking the development of their national
transport corridors with the implementation of the concept of ASEAN maritime connectivity, as
described in the example of Indonesia.
Memorandum of Understanding/agreements signed by countries
The ASEAN Charter, which entered into force in 2008, serves as a foundation in achieving the ASEAN
Community by providing legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN. It also codifies ASEAN
norms, rules and values; sets clear targets for ASEAN; and presents accountability and compliance.
In effect, the ASEAN Charter has become a legally binding agreement among the ten ASEAN Member
States.
7.2.3 Legal and institutional framework
Legal basis
The ASEAN Charter serves as a foundation in achieving the ASEAN Community by providing a legal
and institutional framework for ASEAN Member States.
ASEAN strives for harmonization of national regulations, standards and procedures, but has still a long
way to go for implementation and enforcement.
Organization and characteristics
The organisation principles are stipulated in the ASEAN Charter62. Chapter IV describes the
governance structure, consisting of:
 The ASEAN Summit (Article 7);
 The ASEAN Coordinating Council (Article 8);
 The ASEAN Community Councils (Article 9);
 The ASEAN Sectorial Ministerial Bodies (Article 10);
 The Secretary-General of ASEAN and ASEAN Secretariat (Article 11);
 The Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (Article 12).
62 See