A briefing on the results of the International Conference at the Level of Ministers of Transport of Developing Landlocked Countries was held at the “Berkarar” hotel of the National Touristic Zone “Avaza”, reports today’s issue of the newspaper “Neutral Turkmenistan”.

We remind that the forum “Ashgabat process: financing for better connectivity”, was organized by the Government of Turkmenistan under the auspices of the UN.

At the Conference, held on August 15-16 in a hybrid form, took part the representatives of more than 30 countries and international organizations. As it is known, the initiative of conduction of this forum was proposed by Turkmenistan and was enshrined in the relevant UN Resolution adopted in 2021.

The briefing, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by the Government members, the representatives of both chambers of the National Parliament, non-governmental organizations, mass media.

All conference meetings were broadcast live on the web TV channel of the United Nation Organization in its four official languages – English, French, Spanish and Russian.

At the same time, the importance of new initiatives voiced by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who addressed the forum participants with a video message, in which Turkmenistan's readiness to intensify and expand its participation in the global transport dialogue was confirmed. Among them are proposals concerning the consideration of the creation of a special working group in the UN that would purposefully defend the interests of the LLDCs and carry out systematic activities with the relevant structures of the Community of Nations, as well as the development of a Resolution of the UN General Assembly “On enhancing the role of landlocked developing countries in the development and strengthening of global transport cooperation”.

Th program of the second day of the Forum included the meeting of the Coordination Council on creation of the international tarsnport and transit corridors (on the basis of Ashgabat Agreement) and the meeting of the Minsitries of transport in the format “Central Asia – Middle East – Africa: cooperation opportunity in the transport sector”. In addition, the launch ceremony of the pilot project of the Global Transit Document was organized on August 17.

A number of multilateral and bilateral documents were signed during the International Conference.

The results of the Forum were consolidated in the Final Statement where the importance of strengthening transport connectivity for sustainable post-COVID-19 recovery of landlocked countries are emphasized. At the same time, the acceleration of digitalization to improve transit and simplify trade procedures, and the promotion of investment activities are among the priority vectors of combining efforts.

It was noted that appropriate work is currently underway to formalize the Final Statement adopted in Avaza as an official document of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, which will open on September 13 this year.

Bilateral meetings were also held on the sidelines of the Conference, including between members of the Government of Turkmenistan and representatives of foreign states and international organizations, during which opportunities for expanding cooperation were discussed, taking into account promising projects to create new transport corridors. The forum participants also stated the importance of resolving transport, customs, visa and other trade and transport issues to facilitate the practical implementation of international transport and transit corridors.