1. United Nations Multilateral Conventions along the Silk Road
5th IRU EURO-ASIAN ROAD TRANSPORT CONFERENCE
ALMATY, JUNE 2009
Join and Implement
United Nations Multilateral Conventions
along the Silk Road
Madan B. Regmi
Transport Division
UNESCAP, Bangkok

2. Outline Introduction to ESCAP region Euro-Asian Container Trade
Intergovernmental Agreements: AH, TAR
ESCAP Resolution 58/11:UN International Conventions
Operation of Transport Corridors
Development and Facilitation of International Transport
Concluding remarks

3. At a glance: Area Population (2006) GDP (2006) Import (05) Export (05)
62 member countries
12 land locked countries
4 billion people (61% of world population)
29% of world GDP
Unbalanced Development
Concentrated in coastal areas
635 million people in absolute poverty
Area Population (2006) GDP (2006) Import (05) Export (05)
(m sq km) (billion) (billion US $) (bilion US __________
ESCAP (36%) (61.2%) ,055 (29%) 2,987(27.9%) 3,274 (31.4%)
World , , ,441
(Source: Statistical Year Book, ESCAP)

4. Forecast container trade (2005-2015)
10.5 mil.
26.1 mil.
Asia
13.6 mil.
28.3 mil.
Europe
9.5%
7.6%
N. America
6.5%
9.2%
29.9 mil.
80.4 mil.
10.4%
7.4 mil.
17.7 mil.
8.1 mil.
15.1 mil.
World Total: m TEU (2005)
7.6%
235.7 m TEU (2015)

5. Container Export and Import
12 Landlocked Countries
Container Export and Import
15.8% p.a.

6. Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network
141,000 km, 32 countries
Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network entered into force on 4 July 2005
28 signatures, 23 Parties
Obligations of the Parties
Adopt AH network
Develop routes in conformity with standards
Display AH route signs
Working Group on the Asian Highway
3rd WGM-4 September 2009, Bangkok

7. Status of the Asian Highway (2006)
US$ 18 billion-priority needs AH Investment Forum

8. Intergovernmental Agreement on the Trans-Asian Railway Network
114,700 km, 28 countries 8,300 Km Missing Links US$ 25 billion
22 signatories
8 Parties
Enters into force on June
Ceremony to mark the entry into force of the Agreement in Bangkok

9. ESCAP resolution: 48/11 Seven International Transport Conventions
Convention on Road Traffic, 1968
Convention on Road Signs and Signals, 1968
TIR Convention, 1975
Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Commercial Road Vehicles, 1956
Customs Convention on Containers, 1972
International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods, 1982
Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), 1956

10. Contract Road Goods Transport (CMR) ,1956 TIR Convention, 1975
Road Traffic, 1968
Road Signs & Signals, 1968
Contract Road Goods Transport (CMR) ,1956
TIR Convention, 1975
Temporary Importation Commercial Vehicles, 1956
Customs Container Convention, 1972
Harmonization of Frontier Controls Goods, 1982
Armenia X
Azerbaijan
China S*
Georgia
Iran (IR)
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Mongolia X 
Russian Federation
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Legend:
X = Ratification, accession, definite signature; S = Signature; *Done by the Former Republic of China

11. Operation of Intermodal Transport Corridors
Identification, 2. Formalization, 3. Opertionalization
Corridor identification (Phase 1):
Geographical Coverage across countries
Define Corridor include agreed routes (political)
Important trade flow routes
Potential of immediate operation
Not “theoretical” or “ideal” corridors
Have scope for improvement
Formalization (Phase 2)
Agreements
Corridor based Memorandum of Understandings
Terms of reference
Operation
Steering Committees, Detail operation TOR
 11 11

13. Facilitation of International Transport along the Silk Road
Accession and implementation of UN Conventions
Conclusion of Bilateral/Subregional/Regional Agreements
Shanghai Cooperation Organization -Intergovernmental Agreement on International Road Transport
Multilateral Framework Agreements-TRACECA, ECO,
Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC)
Euro-Asian Transport Linkages (EATL)
New Euro-Asian Land Transport Initiative (NELTI)
Coordination and partnerships among member countries, international organizations, private sector

14. Concluding Remarks
Growth of trade within Asia and between Asia and Europe
Demand for improved inland intermodal distribution network
Utilize the regional intermodal transport infrastructure for cross-border, transit transport and trade
Accede and implement Intergovernmental Agreements, UN international Conventions and other initiatives
Good practices/examples of transport operations are within the region
Build on existing national, subregional and regional initiatives:
NELTI, GMS, CAREC, SCO, TRCECA, ECO,
Increasing role of private sector in developing of transport infrastructure, provision operations and of logistics services
Policy geared towards tackling issues and challenges for sustainable transport development and operation
UNESCAP ready to collaborate with international organizations, private sector organizations and member countries

15. Email: escap-ttd@un.org
Thank you!
Transport Division
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