
UNCTAD Policy Brief No. 93, Emerging strategies for ports during the pandemic
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on humankind and on global commerce. Ports and port communities have experienced major changes to normal operating environments.
The strategies used by ports to remain open and continue to facilitate sustainable economic development throughout the pandemic may provide useful lessons for policymakers, particularly in relation to the protocols and innovative measures that have been employed to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the movement of imports and exports as well as ships’ crew and essential port workers.
Key points:
- Ports are essential facilitators of world trade
- Public health advice is crucial in mitigating the impact of pandemics
- Government policy and regulation is required to support port operations during pandemics

The Model Subregional Agreement on Transport Facilitation
The Model Subregional Agreement on Transport Facilitation has been elaborated on the basis of findings of comparative studies between major subregional agreements on transport facilitation to which various ESCAP member States are parties, conducted in 2014-2015. It has been subsequently reviewed by two regional expert meetings held in 2015 and finalized with incorporation of ESCAP member States’ comments.

Airship Technology for Air Connectivity and Humanitarian and the Caribbean and the Pacific
The Airship transport alternative, in its diverse engineering variants, has the potential to be a game-changing technology with significant development in recent years. It offers the technical capabilities to make a broad contribution to the optimization of mobility and logistics networks in isolated communities and territories, especially but not only in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This is particularly important in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as in the event of a disaster, different aid agencies are deployed with support in the distribution and logistics of perishable and essential cargo, equipment, and assistance personnel. This innovative mode should be incorporated into the transport matrix (both nationally and regionally), for the latter to move towards more efficient, sustainable, and resilient networks.

Seamless and smart connectivity along the Asian Highway network in the time of COVID-19
Freight transport operations poses the risks during the pandemics, especially if it is not fully computerized. As documents and goods continue to be subjected to physical checks for customs and other regulatory purposes, crew members and staff at border-crossing points and control terminals are exposed to the risk of contagion by the nature of their work. in this context, the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and intelligent transport systems (ITS) is directly relevant to the pandemic response and recovery policies.Optimization of automation and digitalization can reduce the need for human interaction, making cross-borders transport safer and more resilient to disruptions. In this context, this technical note aims to offer policy recommendations for policy responses using new technologies and smart road solutions to preserve the regional transport connectivity in the time of the pandemics and other similar disruptions.

Airship technology for air connectivity and humanitarian aid in the Caribbean and the Pacific
The Hybrid Airship transport alternative has the potential to be a game changing technology with significant development in recent years. The aim of this technical note is to help raise awareness on airships as an innovative mobile services technology.

COVID-19 and maritime transport: Disruption and resilience in Africa
Impacts of the COVID-19 disruption on maritime trade flows, port calls, and liner shipping connectivity in Africa.

COVID-19 and maritime transport: Disruption and resilience in Asia
Impacts of The presentation sets out the impact of the COVID-19 disruption on maritime trade flows, port calls, and liner shipping connectivity in Asia. It also considers the response measures and coping strategies adopted in the face of the disruptive pandemic, and the lessons learned and good practices relating to the maritime supply chain resilience-building.the COVID-19 disruption on maritime trade flows, port calls, and liner shipping connectivity in Asia
Ports in the Fight against COVID-19
Port Responsiveness in the fight against the “invisible” threat: COVID-19
Impact of Covid19 on Transport in the Arab Region
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global health and economic crisis that has transformed the world.
Trade Facilitation - Crisis response package
UNCTAD Trade Facilitation Section has developed a Crisis Response Package which aims to assist countries to mitigate socio-economic impacts during periods of crisis.