The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States will have new tools to help them address issues related to road freight transport caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the initiatives under the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework. ASEAN has approved guidelines to support the response and recovery of road freight transport among its Member States in the context of the pandemic. 

Developed with the assistance of the International Transport Forum (ITF) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the COVID-19 Recovery Guidelines for Resilient and Sustainable International Road Freight Transport Connectivity in ASEAN were approved ad-referendum by the ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) on 11 January 2021.

UNCTAD provides an intensive dedicated professional capacity building programme for the members of national trade facilitation committees (NTFCs) and their Secretariats. The main objective is to empower NTFCs to successfully undertake their mandate to implement, in a coordinated manner, trade facilitation reforms, including the provisions of the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement. Successful and efficient NTFCs will help countries streamline their international trade. Upon successful completion of the UNCTAD programme, committees and its members will be granted graduation certificates.

While the international movement of people and, to some extent, of freight transport has enabled the COVID-19 spread, the role of transport connectivity in dealing with the crisis and post-crisis recovery is more critical than its role in the initial spread of the pandemic. Regional cooperation on transport connectivity helps to provide effective response in the course of a pandemic and in the subsequent recovery efforts rooted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, building resilience to future pandemics and crises.

The pandemic has sent shockwaves through global maritime transport and laid the foundations for a transformed industry and associated supply chains. UNCTAD expects a return to growth in 2021

COVID-19 accelerates greater trade coordination in East Africa

The coronavirus pandemic dealt a severe blow to global merchandise trade. Data from weekly port calls by container ships show early but uneven signs of recovery.

ASYCUDA Programme is supporting user countries in ensuring business continuity while reducing the spread of the virus.