Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 57/242 of 20 December 2002, the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Developing Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan in August 2003. The Conference was preceded by two sessions of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee and three regional level preparatory meetings in Africa, Asia and the Latin America.

The International Ministerial Conference was the first high-level global event of the United Nations devoted to address the special needs and problems of landlocked developing countries in order to integrate them effectively into the world economy by establishing efficient transit transport systems in both landlocked and transit developing countries. The Conference unanimously adopted the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries, and the Almaty Ministerial Declaration.

The over-arching goal of the Almaty Programme of Action is to forge partnerships to overcome the special problems of landlocked developing countries that was caused by their lack of territorial access to the sea and their remoteness and isolation from world markets. The Almaty Programme of Action aims to (a) secure access to and from the sea by all means of transport; (b) reduce costs and improve services so as to increase the competitiveness of their exports; (c) reduce the delivered costs of imports; (d) address problems of delays and uncertainties in trade routes; (e) develop adequate national networks; (f) reduce loss, damage and deterioration en route; (g) open the way for export expansion; and (h) improve the safety of road transport and the security of people along the corridors.

To achieve the above goals, the Almaty Programme of Action stipulates specific measures to establish efficient transit transport systems, recognizing the link between transport and international trade as well as the economic growth. The Almaty Programme of Action is unique with its focus on action-oriented specific actions to be undertaken by both landlocked and transit developing countries with the support of their development partners. Its implementation would be feasible and measurable. These specific actions will be implemented in five priority areas, namely fundamental transit policy issues, infrastructure development and maintenance, international trade and trade facilitation, international support measures, and implementation and review. The Programme is a well-balanced document reflecting the interests of both landlocked and transit developing countries to provide a win-win opportunity for them in establishing efficient transit systems.

II    ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACH FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

- One of the main reasons for the success in the process leading to Almaty was its broad based participatory approach, that included different UN agencies and international and regional/sub-regional organizations specialized in different aspects of the transit transport cooperation. The same approach should be adopted in the follow-up. The system of focal points established during the preparations for the Almaty Conference should be used as main mechanism for inter-agency cooperation and coordination. Also, relevant NGOs, private sector and professional organizations will be broadly involved in the process.

- In paragraph 51 of the Almaty Programme of Action, the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States was requested to, inter alia, enhance its cooperation and coordination with organizations within the United Nations system, particularly those engaged in operational activities on the ground in landlocked and transit developing countries, to ensure effective implementation of the Programme of Action;

- The Almaty Programme of Action in its paragraph 42 called for "concerted actions by relevant international organizations and bodies of the United Nations system; relevant international organizations, such as the World Bank, the regional development banks, the World Trade Organization and the World Customs Organization, regional economic integration organizations, and other relevant regional and subregional organizations". In paragraph 44, the UNCTAD was requested to continue its work in the area of trade facilitation and analytical work and technical assistance related to transit transport problems of landlocked developing countries. In paragraph 47, the regional commission were requested to consider to expand their programmes aimed improving transit transport systems.

- The Almaty Programme of Action also emphasized the importance of the South-South cooperation, as transit neighbours of landlocked developing countries are themselves developing countries. Therefore, South-South dimension should be further encouraged in transit transport cooperation. In this respect, the relevant parts of the Marrakech Framework of Implementation of South-South Cooperation on transit transport cooperation should be taken into account.

- Regional, sub-regional and bilateral cooperative arrangements will be further encouraged.

III.    PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOR THE BIENNIUM 2004-2005

1. Endorsement of the outcome of the International Ministerial Conference by the General Assembly

- The OHRLLS will provide substantive support to the General Assembly for its consideration of agenda item entitled " Outcome of the International Ministerial Conference": (a) Preparation of the Report of the Secretary-General on the outcome of the International Ministerial Conference; (b) Statement of the High Representative in his capacity as the Secretary-General of the International Ministerial Conference; (c) Assistance during the informal consultations on the outcome of the International Ministerial Conference (August- December 2003);

- Endorsement by the General Assembly of the outcome of the International Ministerial Conference (December 2003);

2. Coordination and mobilization of the relevant UN agencies and other international, regional and sub-regional organizations

- The OHRLLS will brief and consult the World Bank, UNCTAD, World Customs Organization, World Trade Organization, ECA, ECE, ESCAP, ECLAC, the Regional Development Banks, ECOWAS, SADC, COMESA, ASEAN, MERCOSUR, ALADI, NEPAD and ECO on the outcome of the Almaty Conference and consult on how to effectively implement and follow up on the outcome of the Almaty Programme of Action (December 2003-March 2004);

- Convene, in cooperation with the CEB secretariat, an Inter-agency consultative meeting on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action with a view to consider and adopt the present draft road map (February 2004);

3. Consultation on the coordinated technical assistance to landlocked and transit developing countries

- While improvement of transport infrastructure is a long-term project, trade facilitation measures are crucial in increasing the efficiency of the use of existing facilities by simplifying the requirements, harmonizing the procedures and documentations, standardizing commercial practices, and introducing agreed codes for presentation of information elements. There is increased awareness of the need for well-coordinated, coherent and systematic technical assistance in the area of transport and trade facilitation. There is also a strong need for coordination and coherence at the national and sub-regional levels.

- Coordinated technical cooperation activities should be designed in a way to enhance synergies among participating agencies and trade facilitation efforts at the national and sub-regional levels;

- Prepare an Issues note on the proposed consolidated technical assistance cooperation (March 2004);

- Conduct consultations with the World Bank, UNDP, UNCTAD, ECE, WTO, WCO on the need for establishing coordinated technical assistance programme in trade facilitation measures in landlocked and transit developing countries (December 2003- March 2004);

- Visit of the High Representative to Washington D.C (Vice-President for external relations, Vice-President for Infrastructure and Transport, Director of the Division of Transport and Urban Development), Geneva (Executive-Secretary of the ECE, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Director-General of the WTO) and Brussels (Secretary-General of WCO) to consult on the consolidated technical assistance cooperation (February-April 2004);

4. Advocacy work to mobilize international awareness and support for the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action

- Initiate advocacy work for raising international awareness of the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action and the specific needs and problems related to landlocked developing countries;

- Interviews with organizations of mass media;

- Issuance of 2004 statistical pocketbook for LLDCs;

- Publication of the Almaty programme of Action;

- Preparation of a publication on the special needs of landlocked developing countries and transit transport systems around the world;

- Website;

5. Resources mobilization

- Solicitation of extra-budgetary resources for the activities related to the follow-up and implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action (2004);

- Priority will be given to the activities referred to in paragraph 8 of the present Roadmap;

- In resources mobilization, private sector, the regional development banks, bilateral and multilateral donors will be actively involved. Necessary project documents or other documents will be prepared in consultation with the relevant organizations and the receiving countries to solicit funds.

6. Assistance to group consultations

- Prepare draft Ministerial Declaration for the 2004 Annual Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries;

- Prepare draft resolution to be adopted by the General Assembly at its 59th session;

- Prepare draft provisions on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action and the special needs of landlocked developing countries for the intergovernmental meetings including South-South Summit, G-77 Ministerial Meeting, NAM Ministerial Meeting, UNCTAD XI, and Doha Round of the WTO negotiations;

7. Review of the progress in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action

- Despatch letters of the High Representative to Member States, UN system organizations and the relevant international regional and subregional organizations, requesting their inputs for the progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action (February 2004);

- Prepare a report of the Secretary-General of the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action (May 2004);

- Review of the progress in the implementation of the Almaty programme of Action at the 59th session of the General Assembly (October 2004);

8. Promotion of specific priority actions

- Identification of major missing links in Africa, Asia and Latin America in consultation with the relevant regional commissions and other sub-regional, regional and international organizations (August 2004);

- Solicit funds to complete these missing links in close cooperation with the relevant regional commissions and other regional and subregional integration organizations (2004);

- Identification of sub-regional priority projects on the development of infrastructure and trade facilitation measures and to solicit funds for the implementation (2004-2005);

- Encourage landlocked and transit developing countries, where necessary, to establish national trade facilitation boards, involving all stakeholders, with a view to channel international support in the area of trade facilitation;

- Prepare a Guidelines for the establishment of the national trade facilitation boards (June 2004);

- Promotion of international conventions in the area of transport and transit trade (October 2004);

9. Preparation for the expert meeting

- Prepare terms of reference for a consultant to prepare issues note on indicators for infrastructure development and trade facilitation to monitor the progress in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action;

- Organization of the expert meeting. Indicator to monitor the progress in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action will be considered with a view to arrive at common set of indicators measuring progress in (a) overall economic and external trade performance of landlocked developing countries; (b) trade facilitation and efficiency of the use of existing transit facilities; (c) infrastructure development;

- Experts will be invited from the relevant UN agencies and international organizations, UNDESA statistics Division, Statistical Commission, the World Bank, ECE, UNCTAD, Millennium Development Project, WCO as well as representatives from the sub-regional organizations and the field (June 2004);

10. Preparation for the subregional meetings

- In paragraph 48 of the Almaty Programme of Action it was decided that specific subregional meetings should be organized to consider how to implement effectively the Almaty Programme of Action (2004-2005);

- In this regard, the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, the World Bank, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the regional commissions and other relevant international and regional/subregional organizations are invited to provide support to landlocked and transit developing countries in organizing those subregional meetings;

- The OHRLLS will soon start consultations on the terms of references of these subregional meetings with the relevant UN agencies, international organizations, regional and subregional organizations.