Ways Forward for Corridor-Based Transport Facilitation Agreements in the CAREC Region

Purpose

This activity will promote knowledge sharing on approaches to improving transport facilitation among the countries participating in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program.

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Background

The CAREC Program is developing six international transport and trade corridors linking the Program's 10 participating countries with each other and linking the region to other markets of Eurasia. The Program plans to complete construction or improvement of about 8,380 km of roads and 5,300 km of railway lines by 2017. By August 2011, about 4,000 km of road sections (49% of the total) had been completed, 3,950 km (47%) were ongoing, and the rest (4%) were planned for 2012 or beyond. For railways, about 2,240 km of railway lines (37% of the total) had been completed, 2,100 km (35%) were ongoing, and the rest (28%) were planned for 2012 or beyond (see Transport Sector Progress Report and Work Plan (late 2011–2012)).

Improvements in soft infrastructure such as transport facilitation agreements are required to ensure this large body of investment delivers the highest returns to the region. Transport facilitation is particularly important for the CAREC region, which includes eight landlocked countries and lies at a crossroads linking large and growing markets in East Asia, South Asia, Europe and the Russian Federation. While there are a number of multilateral and bilateral transport facilitation agreements in place in the CAREC region, cross-border movement of goods and people remains constrained.

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Objectives

• Knowledge sharing on the current state of transport facilitation agreements among the 10 CAREC countries;
• Exposure of CAREC officials to experience with transport facilitation agreement development and implementation in other regions;
• Consideration of feasible approaches to improving cross-border transport of goods and people in the CAREC region.

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Outputs

• Improved understanding of transport facilitation agreements among CAREC countries, including gaps and opportunities for improvement;
• Consideration of lessons from other regions that may be of use to the CAREC region;
• Possible approaches to transport facilitation in the CAREC region.

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Participants

The program is designed for senior transport and customs officials from CAREC countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, PRC, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

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How to Apply

By invitation only.

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Language

English and Russian

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Partners

Asian Development Bank
CAREC Program secretariat