Today in Astana, the Ministerial Conference of Landlocked Developing Countries on trade and transport issues was held on the theme: "The impact of transport infrastructure and trade facilitation on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)."

The event was attended by Transport and Trade Ministers from 32 landlocked developing countries. Representatives of UN agencies of other international, regional and subregional organizations and financial institutions, representatives of the private sector, non-governmental organizations, academia and other stakeholders were also invited to take part at a high official level.

The challenges, opportunities and best practices in improving transport links for landlocked developing countries, including both hard and soft infrastructure after the adoption of the Vienna Program of Action, were discussed at the meeting.

The Minister for Investments and Development of Kazakhstan, Zhenis Kassymbek, in his welcoming speech noted that there are 48 countries in the world that are deprived of access to the sea. They are cut off from the opportunities of sea trade, which accounts for the lion's share of world trade turnover — about 90%.

At the same time, Kazakhstan demonstrates the growth of foreign trade, which is a direct indicator of the formation of modern transport infrastructure.

Thanks to the efforts and resources in the development of the transport complex, cargoes from China via Kazakhstan are delivered to Europe today within 15 days, when delivery by the South Sea Route takes about two months.

According to the minister, the work carried out by Kazakhstan fully complies with the requirements of the Agenda for 2030, as the goals of sustainable development directly affect the progress and future of developing countries.

"We understand that sustainable transport is a key factor and, therefore, it is necessary to take into account the important recommendations of the high-level meetings of landlocked developing countries on transport and trade over the past two years," the minister said.

The participants of the conference also discussed the implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation.

During the Ministerial Conference, the Declaration was signed, which envisages the achievements in the field of transit transport infrastructure development, improvement of physical infrastructure in road, rail, ports, inland waterways, pipelines, air transport.

 

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