Construction of Railway Economy In Asean: Issues And Challenges

Abstract

Countries of South East Asia (SEA) mainland have shown major concerns on the need to revamp and improve the railway sector within their respective borders specifically and throughout the SEA mainland region collectively. Following the agreement of ASEAN member countries to include the development of railway industry as one of the priority areas under the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2010 (MPAC2010), major constructions are being carried out to improve the facilities and services of rail-based transportation throughout the region. The challenges, however, do not lie in the initial development phase as during the other phases after that, especially, during the penultimate, nearing-of-completion phase.  With huge amount of money invested during all phases of the developments, the next focus of the sector is to ensure that these development projects will have a positive return of investments (ROI) for all countries involved. This new focus entails the application of prudent business strategies by the stakeholders of railway transportation sector in all ASEAN countries concerned. It is only with a proper and strategic business planning that the railway transportation sector could improve their position to be one of the economic movers key in their respective countries, which is in line with the intention of revamping the sector.