Transport and trade facilitation infrastructure and services have become essential components for developing countries´ competitiveness in the global market. The demand for ever faster and more reliable trade logistics services has drawn increasing attention to trade and transport facilitation, which can be more important than tariffs in determining the cost of traded goods.
This creates particular challenges for landlocked developing countries confronted with the need to connect to global shipping networks through neighbouring countries´ seaports, combined with multiple border crossings and the long distances of many overland transport routes.
Partnerships between the public sector and the relevant business sectors are critical in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of transport and trade infrastructures and services. Governments are increasingly seeking private partners for the financing, building, operation and maintenance of such infrastructure and services. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have proven to be successful cooperative means for the provision of public infrastructure and services. Different models for PPPs reflect the diversity of possible contractual relationships.
In the context of the current economic crisis, investment in transport infrastructure and services is confronted with additional challenges. Both the public and the private sectors have found their possibilities to obtain financing reduced, and it is important that both sectors work closely together to prevent a cyclical decline in transport investment today from resulting in capacity constraints and obstacles to trade tomorrow.
The meeting will explore modalities and best practices for PPPs and the role of technology in developing and operating efficient transport infrastructure and services to facilitate international trade and transport in developing countries.
The meeting will take into account the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action in Land-Locked and Transit Developing Countries as well as specific issues faced by least developed countries and small island developing States.
It will also consider the potential impact of future commitments ensuing from the World Trade Organization negotiations on trade facilitation.
The findings and recommendations of this expert meeting will be reported to the second session of the Trade and Development Commission, to be held 3-7 May 2010.
Transport and Trade Facilitation
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Input from experts: Experts nominated by member States are encouraged to submit brief papers (approximately five pages) as contributions to the work of the meeting. The papers will be made available at the meeting in the form and language in which they are received. Papers should be submitted to the UNCTAD secretariat by 23 November 2009 and addressed to: Ms. Maria Misovicova F.: +41 22 917 0050 |
