Ministers are expected to formalise vision to develop Asian transport sector including establishing Asian Conference of Ministers of Transport, sign Intergovernmental Agreement on Trans-Asian Railway Network, and issue two Ministerial Declarations. Senior Officials Meeting (6-8 November) & Ministerial Meeting (10-11 November).
One highlight of the conference is signing Intergovernmental Agreement on Trans-Asian Railway Network on 10 November. Declaration on Transport will include a framework for efficient, effective implementation of a regional action programme designed to set direction of transport development in UNESCAP region over next five years.
A second Ministerial Declaration will focus on improving road safety in Asia & Pacific. UNESCAP estimates by 2020 approximately 610000 road deaths, representing two-thirds of world's total, will be in UNESCAP region.
Other issues are regional co-operation in infrastructure development for international integrated intermodal transport system in Asia; integrated facilitation measures for smooth, efficient movement of goods, people; developing transport logistics; financing transport infrastructure, public- private partnership; transportation & Millennium Development Goals.

Copyright PPI (Pakistan Press International), 2006