Vienna: Amid calls from landlocked developing countries for more transportation infrastructure and transit corridors, a speaker at a recent round-table discussion at the Third Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries highlighted the importance of using existing international instruments to enable smoother transit.
According to EMM, the theme of the round table was "Building sustainable infrastructure, strengthening connectivity, and promoting unfettered transit systems for landlocked developing countries." Umberto de Pretto, Secretary-General of the International Road Transport Union, emphasized that geography does not dictate future outcomes, citing Switzerland's experience. He urged landlocked developing countries to explore solutions beyond physical infrastructure, noting that despite significant spending on roads, delays at borders hinder sustainable development.
Other speakers, including Emile Zerbo, Minister of State for Territorial Administration and Mobility of Burkina Faso, stressed the vital role of transit corridors. Zerbo highlighted the structural challenges faced by countries like Burkina Faso, where the nearest transit port is 1,000 kilometers away. He reported that transport costs for West African landlocked countries account for 45% of total costs, compared to 10% for coastal nations. Zerbo advocated for interconnected infrastructure and cross-border cooperation to enhance competitiveness.
Fatou Haidara from UNIDO described transport corridors as economic lifelines, emphasizing the importance of climate-smart, resilient, and digitally enabled infrastructure. She highlighted the necessity of digital connectivity and reliable energy corridors to attract investment and support small and medium enterprises, particularly those led by youth and women.
Leila Batyrbekova, from the Europe and Central Asia Transport and Trade Association, shared her experience of extensive travel to attend the conference, underscoring the need for improved connectivity. She called for well-maintained infrastructure and harmonization of customs procedures to enhance connectivity, particularly in the Middle Corridor linking Central Asia to the world.
Madina Sissoko Dembele, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure of Mali, concluded by calling for innovative resources to ensure global market access. She noted that transit costs can constitute up to 70% of total transport costs for landlocked countries, emphasizing the need for partnerships and synergies of action.
The discussion also highlighted the challenges and efforts of various landlocked and neighboring gateway countries. Lesotho, for instance, struggles with regional connectivity due to its geographical position within South Africa. In contrast, Laos benefits from the Laos-China railway line but still faces high costs and logistical bottlenecks. Zimbabwe and Zambia are collaborating with neighboring countries to establish transit corridors, while Angola and Tanzania are modernizing ports and enhancing regional integration.
The European Union representative stressed that physical infrastructure alone is insufficient, advocating for digitalization, interoperability, and streamlined customs procedures. Poland highlighted a 2023 General Assembly resolution on global resilience and infrastructure connectivity, encouraging landlocked countries to implement its recommendations.
Dima Al-Khatib from the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation called for massive investment to close the $500 billion finance gap for least developed countries. She emphasized the need for financing mechanisms that pose no additional burden, cooperation based on solidarity, and mutually beneficial partnerships.
