Development of sustainable transport systems and connectivity are important factors of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the SPECA sub-region. Effective, efficient, multimodal transport systems, developed in coordinated way and in synergy of all actors, are crucial ingredient for better competitiveness and economic development of SPECA landlocked countries (LLDC). Before pandemics, LLDCs paid more than double what coastal countries do to export their goods and during pandemics all disruptions created additional costs. In that sense, enhancing connectivity and ensuring sustainable and efficient functioning of international transport corridors is of outmost importance.
One of the solutions for better regional and inter-regional transport connectivity and better efficiency of international transport corridors is efficient implementation of United Nations legal instruments on inland transport and border crossing facilitation, especially digital solutions for border crossing facilitation (e-TIR and e-CMR and other facilitation tools). Other solutions include initiatives on strengthening seamless connectivity due to efficient border crossing formalities on railways using electronic information exchange between railways and among railways and control agencies as well as digital development of rail and multimodal transport in North and Central Asia.
The aim of the Workshop is to strengthen knowledge of the national representatives of SPECA countries on digitalization of transport services, electronic exchange of information on railways and digitalization of multimodal transport, facilitation tools including those based on legal instruments (eTIR and eCMR) and regional projects highlighting the advantages that new electronic systems can bring on trade and border crossings facilitation in the region. UNECE will present recent developments in deployment of eTIR International and activities on eCMR, ESCAP will present results of recent initiatives on digitalization on rail and multimodal transport both in the region and SPECA countries, and national experts will present case studies from countries that has already started deploying eTIR. Furthermore, the workshop will strengthen national capacities on how to improve regional transport connectivity and inland transport competitiveness through digitalization.