ESCAP

SAVE THE DATE: Transport and trade connectivity in the age of pandemics: Closing project meeting

This Initiative that brought together the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the five UN regional commissions for Africa (ECA), Europe (ECE), Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and Western Asia (ESCWA), with funding managed by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, will come to an end soon in June 2022.

As such, and to review all the activities that were carried out during the project period, a virtual closing project event that will take place from 20-24 June 2022.

Webinar Series on Next Generation Trade Facilitation

14 December 2021
14:30 - 19:30 hrs.,  ESCAP: UTC +7
Webinar
Hybrid

This webinar series will discuss how sustainable trade facilitation measures are crucial in supporting groups and sectors with special needs, specifically related to agriculture, SMEs and women, especially how these measures could support the recovery from the pandemic and build back better. Experts from governments, international organizations and private sectors will share good practices in implementing relevant trade facilitation measures towards a more inclusive an resilient global trading system.

Transport Connectivity and COVID-19 Pandemic: Pathways for Greater Resilience and Sustainability

15 December 2021
09:30 - 15:36 hrs.,  UNCTAD: UTC +1
Events
Bangkok, Thailand

A special event on Transport Connectivity and COVID-19 Pandemic: Pathways for Greater Resilience and Sustainability was co-organized by ESCAP and the International Transport Forum (ITF) during the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Transport, held in Bangkok and online from 14 to 17 December 2021. The event discussed pathways for greater resilience and sustainability for transport connectivity and COVID-19 Pandemic in Asia and the Pacific.

Training Manual on Logistics Information System


18 August 2021

The “Training Manual on Logistics Information System” was developed as part of the activities of the UNDA project “Transport and trade connectivity in the age of pandemics: Contactless, seamless and collaborative UN solutions”. 

Included in the Training Manual are definitions of logistics, logistics information and a logistics information system, a description of logistics information system, a stepwise approach on how to develop a logistics information system and a list of required standards to develop and implement such a system. The Training Manual is intended to support ESCAP member States in their efforts to develop logistics information systems using standards to improve work productivity and efficiency in a sustainable way. 

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Training Manual on Operational Aspects of Multimodal Transport


27 April 2022

Acknowledging the importance of multimodality in enhancing the seamlessness of supply chain and logistics network for ESCAP member countries, including landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), the “Training Manual on Operational Aspects of Multimodal Transport” was developed as part of ESCAP Transport Division initiatives to improve technical knowledge of the transport and logistics sector and to support human resource development and capacity-building of ESCAP member countries. 

The latest edition of the manual was finalized with the support of the UNDA project “Transport and trade connectivity in the age of pandemics: Contactless, seamless and collaborative UN solutions”.


The Manual can also be used as a self-study guide. It is also designed to assist instructors to deliver training modules in a structural and effective manner, allowing for comprehensive transmission of technical knowledge. 
 

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The Model Subregional Agreement on Transport Facilitation


16 May 2022

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.   

In 2020-2021, as part of the United Nations’ rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and the UNDA project “Transport and trade connectivity in the age of pandemics: Contactless, seamless and collaborative UN solutions”, the secretariat conducted a study on proposals for crisis-response provisions in regional, subregional and bilateral transport agreements that could be incorporated in the existing and future transport agreements of ESCAP member States.

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SAVE THE DATE: Transport and trade connectivity in the age of pandemics: Closing project meeting

20 - 24 June 2022
Conference
Virtual

This Initiative that brought together the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the five UN regional commissions for Africa (ECA), Europe (ECE), Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and Western Asia (ESCWA), with funding managed by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, will come to an end soon in June 2022.

Seamless and smart connectivity along the Asian Highway network in the time of COVID-19


30 November 2021

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. 

The first part of the technical note focuses on the international road transport of countries along the Asian Highway network in face of COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the newly operational challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on the global transport industry and the emerging trends in international road transport such as digitalization of cross border transport operations and greater use of technologies.

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