I. INTRODUCTION
This round table on “Financing transport infrastructure for corridor development in the ECE region” will take place on Wednesday, 25 September 2024, from15:00-18:00 CET. It is part of the WP.5 cluster of work on "Development of Transport Networks and Links" under its 2024-2025 biennial programme of work. This cluster assigns WP.5 the role of overseeing and supporting the operationalization of transport links and corridors within the ECE region and neighbouring areas, while also addressing the resilience of transport networks to climate change. A concept note is contained in Informal Document WP.5 (2024) No. 1.
II. OBJECTIVES
The round table discussion is expected to provide a platform for participants to:
- Discuss the challenges and opportunities in securing financing for transport infrastructure.
- Explore various funding or financing mechanisms available to governments, including national budgets, public-private partnerships, and MDB lending.
- Understand MDB funding requirements, including the preparation of prefeasibility studies and project proposals and key criteria including on infrastructure resilience.
- Examine cross-border coordination in financing and executing transport infrastructure projects, ensuring alignment, cohesion and optimal linkages at regional level. • Address the importance of climate change resilience in planning and developing transport infrastructure projects.
III. PROGRAMME