Multi-year expert meeting on transport and trade facilitation (fourth session)

In accordance with the approved terms of reference (TD/B/55/9, paras. 1-5), the fourth and last session of the multi-year expert meeting will review topics discussed in the previous three sessions and will address the following topics:

• Measures and actions to optimize the contribution of investment, in particular private-sector investment, in trade facilitation, with a particular focus on its impacts on international transport networks and on the efficiency of transport services and their contribution to trade facilitation.
  
  The meeting will also deal with the use of information and communication technologies in logistics, trade facilitation and supply chain security...   (TD/B/55/9, para. 2 (a)).
   
• Support to the implementation process of the Almaty Programme of Action, including the analysis of bottlenecks between landlocked and transit developing countries, and possible appropriate solutions to address them, including best practices in the development and use of transport infrastructure, as well as the adoption of common standards, in landlocked and transit developing countries...   (TD/B/55/9, para. 2 (f)).

When improving trade performance and competitiveness, a holistic approach is needed to combine policy actions and measures targeting the access to cost-effective transport services, the energy efficiency and sustainability of transport systems, the impacts of climate change on transport operations, and trade facilitation reforms and customs automation.

In the framework of the mandate provided in paragraphs 107 and 164-168 of the Accra Accord, the meeting will provide an opportunity to look at the road ahead in terms of challenges and policy options in these fields and to consider the role UNCTAD and partners can play to help developing countries in the envisaged follow-up and implementation of policy actions.