The role of transport and transit corridors in ensuring international cooperation, stability and sustainable development will be discussed at a high-level international conference in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, from 3 to 4 September 2014. The event is organized by the Government of Turkmenistan, in collaboration with UNECE, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the International Road Transport Union.
UNECE Executive Secretary Christian Friis Bach will deliver one of the opening addresses, highlighting some of the key contributions UNECE is making to develop sustainable transport and transit corridors in the region. These include, among others: the Euro-Asian Transport Links project, which identified 9 rail and 9 road routes that could offer quicker and cheaper alternatives to sea fare between Europe and Asia, once proper infrastructures and border crossing procedures are in place; international legal instruments to facilitate the transit of goods across borders, such as the 1982 Harmonization Convention or the 1975 TIR Convention; on-going efforts to develop a unified railway regulatory framework to expedite rail border crossings between regions and to improve the competitiveness of international rail freight services; or United Nations Road safety Conventions developed and administered by UNECE. While in Ashgabat, the Executive Secretary will host a series of bilateral meetings with high-level officials, including, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan responsible for Transport and Communications Satlyk Satlykov, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier and Deputy Executive Secretary of UNESCAP Shun-ichi Murata.
High-level participants, Ministers, Deputies and other high ranking representatives of international organizations and participating countries will discuss the role of transport and transit corridors in fostering economic development and strengthening international cooperation. Financing mechanisms, policy and technical obstacles to closer integration as well as facilitation measures which could promote faster integration of national economies and transport systems in the global economy will also be addressed. The conference will also consider how transport transit corridors contribute to economic, social and environmentally sustainable development, as well as strategies and policy coordination needed to maximize the benefits of seamless transport services.
For further information, please visit: http://www.turkmenistan-conference.com/