PRESS RELEASE

Participants called on donor countries and international financial partners to invest in the transport and communication sectors of the landlocked and transit countries. They observed that the challenge goes beyond construction and maintenance of infrastructure and includes the organization of transport and communication networks.

While acknowledging the contributions of the European Union, the World Bank and other international organizations in the development of infrastructure, participants called for greater involvement of the international community in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action. They also noted that cooperation across borders with the transit countries is crucial for the establishment of efficient transit transport systems.

Among other measures, the meeting recommended the following actions for improving transit transport for the Landlocked Developing Countries:

-         Expand the support of regional economic communities to the development of transport infrastructure;

-         Support regional economic communities in mobilizing resources for the implementation of infrastructure programmes;

-         Harmonize road charges, documentation and procedures;

-         Integrate an environmental dimension in the development of infrastructure and transport projects.

Derrick E. Bwalya, Information Officer, United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Developing States. Tel: (917) 367-2471. Email: bwalyad@un.org. Website: http://www.un.org/ohrlls/ 

UN-OHRLLS/23/2007