This sector covers trade, transport, transit and telecommunications.

Improvements and reforms of transit regimes could start out with an initial investment which then induced a virtuous cycle, where more transit trade encouraged more investment, which in turn facilitated further transit trade.

I. TRANSIT TRANSPORT CONSTRAINTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON TRADE

Pragmatic steps to improve transit transport arrangements needed to involve all major players involved in transit trade.

Among the tools and instruments available to improve transit trade were transit transport regimes, customs systems and cargo tracking schemes.

(iii) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Trade and Transit Transport Facilitation Recent Developments in UNCTAD

Trade between landlocked and transit developing countries tended to be relatively small.

4. Central Asian external trade and transit initiative rebuilding the Silk Road

4. Central Asian external trade and transit initiative rebuilding the silk road

We also enjoyed the benefits of a lively transit trade with our neighbours.

II. Economic recovery and the emerging trade and transit patterns in Central Asia

The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is working on several programmes to facilitate transit trade.

The World Bank has expanded its project portfolio dealing with trade and transit facilitation.

4. Central Asian external trade and transit initiative rebuilding the silk road 19 22

In southern and eastern Africa, COMESA has embarked on several regional trade and transport facilitation initiatives, especially as regards transit trade.

On the issue of transit trade, UNCTAD continued to support cooperation on transit transport arrangements as part of the implementation of the Almaty Plan of Action.

Report prepared by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the transit environment in the landlocked States of Central Asia and their transit neighbours

56. Regional and international trade of land locked countries is hampered by high transit costs.

Trade in transit services is steadily being liberalized in many land locked and transit developing countries, and competition between the suppliers of such services is being encouraged.

This will be indispensable to realize the cost saving and trade promoting potential of transit agreements.

In fact, several specific trade facilitation measures, including those related to transit trade and coordination at border crossings, are often included in the trade promotion agendas of regional organizations.

Negotiations of the World Trade Organization on trade facilitation provide a unique opportunity for landlocked and transit developing countries, as the negotiations will clarify and improve provisions on freedom of transit, fees and formalities connected with importation and exportation and transparency in the publication and administration of trade regulations.

If the figures were correct, Pakistan wondered why the efforts to curb the transit trade were not succeeding.

Table 7 Membership and observer status in the World Trade Organization, landlocked developing countries and transit developing countries

Technical assistance should be provided to landlocked developing countries on a priority basis as their trade facilitation needs will depend mainly on transit services and the policies of their transit neighbors.

He noted in particular the efforts of China, the Russian Federation and Mongolia to improve transit facilities and to promote subregional trade through the establishment of more effective legal transit frameworks.

These included the improvement of current bilateral transit agreements, the promotion of a complementary comprehensive subregional agreement and international transit conventions and agreements, the development of alternative routes, the commercialization of transit services and the development of the potentials for expanded subregional trade.

The inclusion of trade facilitation in the Doha Round of trade negotiations is a welcome development toward attaining globally binding rules to ensure the freedom of transit of landlocked developing countries, and to expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods, especially those in transit.

The Bahamas, like other transit countries, is experiencing the negative social impact of illegal activities associated with that trade.

11. Invites those countries that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to international agreements and conventions related to transit trade and transport, and invites landlocked and transit countries to consider concluding bilateral or subregional intergovernmental agreements regarding various aspects of transit transport

The continued enhancement of transport infrastructure has as a result promoted trade activity between land locked and transit developing countries.

At the cross road of international trade, the Hungarian Customs were dealing with about three million transit declarations a year.

The World Trade Organization ESCAP Regional Workshop on Trade Facilitation for Asian and Pacific Economies, held in Hangzhou, China, from 5 to 7 April 2005, was convened to train trade negotiators on the relevant aspects of the ongoing World Trade Organization negotiations on trade facilitation, including transit.

(c) Provide technical assistance and capacity building activities in the area of transport and trade facilitation, including on the use of automated systems to improve international trade and transport management. Special attention should be paid to the improvement of transit arrangements for the landlocked and transit developing countries

Taking note of the progress report prepared by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the transit environment in the landlocked States of Central Asia and their transit neighbours, A 53 331, annex.

Mr. Hussain (Pakistan) wished to know what criteria had been used in estimating the transit trade from Afghanistan to other countries.

Delegates expressed satisfaction with the secretariat's work, in particular work related to trade facilitation in land locked and transit developing countries.

However, the meeting on transit should also consider technical and trade infrastructure aspects relevant to the distribution of goods and services.

1. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to improving the efficiency of the transit transport system in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours

1. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to improving the efficiency of the transit transport system in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours

1. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to improving the efficiency of the transit transport system in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours

(e) Note by the Secretary General transmitting the report prepared by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the transit environment in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit neighbours (A 53 331)

8. High transit transport costs remain the major barrier, and they erode the competitive edge of landlocked developing countries in world trade.

The initiative aims at reducing transit costs facing the Central Asian Republics, thereby promoting their external trade and bolstering their economic growth.

11. The growing number of alternative transit routes in Central Asia has played a key role in changing the direction of trade.