1st Expert Group Meeting on Developing Euro – Asian Transport Linkages UNECE – UNESCAP 1st Expert Group Meeting on Developing Euro – Asian Transport Linkages 9 – 11 March 2004, Almaty - Kazakhstan Introduction to UN Development Account Project “Capacity Building for Developing Interregional Land and Land-cum-sea Transport Linkages” By Michalis P. Adamantiadis UNECE Regional Adviser on Transport

UNECE – UNESCAP Background The Project is jointly implemented by the five Regional Commissions of the UN Granted funding under Development Account by GA at its 56th session, in 2001 Project total budget US $ 1,250,000, up to 2006 Euro-Asian Transport Linkages component budget US $ 392,000 i.e. about 32 % Other project components include ECE-ESCAP-ESCWA, ECE-ECA and ECLAC Projects

Project general objectives UNECE – UNESCAP Project general objectives Assist Member States of ECA, ECE, ESCAP, ESCWA and ECLAC in strengthening national capacities for developing interregional transport linkages Promote interregional cooperation to facilitate trade and tourism

Expected accomplishments UNECE – UNESCAP Expected accomplishments Identify important interregional transport linkages Strengthen the capacities of national officials to identify impediments to movements of goods and passengers Put in operation efficient interregional transport linkages

UNECE – UNESCAP UNECE–ESCAP Capacity Building Project Euro-Asian Transport Links: Countries involved Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyjzstan, Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

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Identifications of important routes, incorporating intermodal concept UNECE – UNESCAP Formulation of interregional Transport Linkages Between Europe and Asia – Phase 1 (2004) Identifications of important routes, incorporating intermodal concept Inventory of routes and priority projects Elaboration of a ECE-ESCAP in-house study Country reports Collection and analysis of data Presentation of first results and prioritization of investment projects (2nd Expert Group Meeting)

UNECE – UNESCAP Facilitation of transport along Euro-Asian Transport Links – Phase 2 (2005) Analysis of transit times and costs along routes (Further Expert Group Meeting) Strengthening of implementation of major international agreements and conventions (organization of a series of workshops) Strengthening of national transport development bodies (Technical support and Advisory services) Presentation of results of the study and transit analysis ( 3rd Expert Group Meeting)

Creation of project website and continues updating UNECE – UNESCAP Information dissemination and institutional networking – Phase 3 (2006) Database with contact details of responsible experts and institutions involved Creation of project website and continues updating Organization of workshop for sharing lessons learned across the Regional Commissions

Summary of activities and Timetable   UNECE – UNESCAP Summary of activities and Timetable

Thank you UNECE – UNESCAP The blue planet of human life, by Yasuhito Shirabata, Palais des Nations, Geneva