1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. UNECE – UNESCAP

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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 RegionalCommissions

10. UNECE – UNESCAP Summary of activities and Timetable

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