Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi together with CEO of PT KAI (Persero) and Acting Governor of West Java Bey Triadi Machmudin opened the 44th ASEAN Railway CEO Conference in Bandung, Wednesday, Tuesday (3/9) which marked the start of the four-day activity (2-5 September 2024). The 8 CEOs came from Keretaapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (Malaysia), Vietnam Railways (Vietnam), Ministry of Public Works and Transport (Cambodia), Lao National Railways (Laos), Philippine National Railways (Philippines), Myanmar Railways (Myanmar), State Railway of Thailand (Thailand), and PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) (Indonesia).
Budi appreciated PT KAI and all partners and stakeholders in ARCEO’s Conference 2024. He hopes that all participants who attend can provide very valuable input for the development of the ASEAN transportation sector, especially railways.
“It is an honor for me to join other distinguished speakers to share my views on this very timely and relevant topic for our beloved railway sector. We all hope to gain valuable input and hopefully we can share insights with each other today,” said Minister Budi at the Pullman Hotel, Bandung, as stated in a written statement, Tuesday (3/9/2024).
On that occasion, Budi said that currently Indonesia is experiencing very significant development in the railway sector with the operation of the Jakarta-Bandung Whoosh High-Speed Train. Then in terms of urban railways, Indonesia is trying to expand our MRT network with ongoing construction plus the Jabodebek LRT, and the latest is the Autonomous Rail Transit in the Archipelago as the next National Capital. These lines, he said, will complement the existing urban railway network in Jakarta and are expected to be a very good solution for public mobility.
At the same location, CEO of PT KAI (Persero) Didiek Hartantyo revealed that the output of the 44th ARCEOs’ Conference was to strengthen relations and cooperation between railway operators and industry players in ASEAN. Didiek emphasized that together they can achieve something more and truly embody the spirit of ASEAN, namely mutual benefit, shared success, and shared resilience to various challenges that arise.
“This year, our theme is ‘Driving Sustainability with Digital Innovation’. We believe this theme stems from the global challenges we face, including the urgent need to address climate change, improve operational efficiency, and meet the increasing demand for more sustainable transportation options. Moreover, technological developments and changes in customer demand play an important role in shaping our focus,” said Didiek.
Southeast, with almost all ASEAN countries committed to net zero emissions covering 91% of carbon output in the region, which for railways, this translates into an urgency to align operations with these goals. During the four days of the 44th ARCEOs Conference, Didiek said they will engage in discussions on important topics, exchange ideas, and refine strategies for a sustainable future for the railway industry, with a special focus on ASEAN.
“We are also excited to offer attendees a cultural experience that showcases the beauty and traditions of Indonesia. Such as cultural performances and traditional dances with authentic Javanese cuisine. A tour of Mount Tangkuban Perahu, trying Whoosh which offers stunning views.
September 3, 2024, detikFinance
(https://news.detik.com/berita/d-7522466/menhub-buka-asean-railway-ceo-conference-ke-44-di-bandung)
(https://finance.detik.com/infrastruktur/d-7523818/8-ceo-operator-kereta-se-asean-jajal-kereta-cepat-whoosh)