Thursday, 17 December 2009 12:48 DAP-NEWS
DAP via CAAI News Media
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 17 (DAP) - Cambodia and Vietnam have signed a treaty that will allow freedom of navigation on Mekong waterways between their nations and increase access to the river system for foreign vessels, said the Mekong River Commission (MRC) said in a statement on Thursday.
The Treaty on Waterway Transportation, inked by the countries in Phnom Penh on Thursday, legally binds the two countries reducing the official restrictions that have existed for cross-border navigation.
The governments said that “the move will free-up regional and international trade, help avoid delays and make river-based customs and immigration procedures more efficient and straight-forward,” said release seen by DAP.
The agreement also introduces a range of other measures that should improve efficiency and safety for vessels using the more than 65 Cambodian and Vietnamese registered internal ports, it said.
The Mekong and a range of other tributaries between Cambodia and Vietnam are now officially open.
“Now no one may legally stop river trade,” His Excellency Mom Sibon, Secretary of State, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, said in the release.
“This is a historical step that will not only improve the quality and efficiency of waterborne transport in the Mekong Region, but in the long-term, will increase export potential and help both Cambodia and Vietnam achieve their poverty alleviation goals,” said Mr. Sibon.
Cambodia’s largest international river port also endorsed the move.
“This agreement, along with the recent development of Cai Mep Port in Vietnam provide exciting opportunities for economic growth in Cambodia and development of Phnom Penh Port,” said another His Excellency Hei Bavy, Delegate of the Royal Government of Cambodia, Chairman and CEO of Phnom Penh Port.
“We can now realize the full potential of the Mekong River by transporting goods directly to the United States, Europe and Australia through Cai Mep Port,” said Mr. Bavy in the release.
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) facilitated the agreement by assisting a legal task force in both countries, with funding provided by the Governments of Belgium and Australia.
The new treaty will open up Mekong waterways to a range of new possibilities for generating trade revenue, according to the Mekong River Commission (MRC).
“Through this treaty, the Governments of Cambodia and Vietnam have agreed to allow all waterway users to freely cross borders for the transport of cargo and passengers,” said Jeremy Bird, CEO of the MRC.
“This will help all vessels, including, river cruise ships by allowing better access to ports in the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and many more sites that attract tourists,” said Bird.
“Shipping on the Lower Mekong River has previously not been conducted in a consistent manner” said another Capt. Lieven Geerinck, MRC Chief Technical Advisor.
“Now shipping companies can plan with confidence when exactly their containers will arrive at destination. It is all about reliability,” said Geerinck.
The agreement will also put in place a range of measures for ensuring river traffic safety and regulating the transportation of dangerous goods by river. By standardizing rules and regulations, the MRC claims that there will be a considerable improvement to the safety of the shipping of oil and hazardous liquid cargoes, port services and safe navigation.
The new regulations cover the Mekong River, the Tonle Sap, Bassac and Vam Nao rivers, as well as a number of canals in Vietnam and apply to all kinds of vessels, including sea-going ships under foreign flag, said the release.
The MRC says that improving river transport infrastructure will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions normally associated with land-based transport. River freight produces on average about one fifth of the greenhouse gas CO2 per ton per km that is produced by trucking goods on the road.
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