Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
E:: C.... {) _,......;'
-,.F
' l'vfr. Chairman
Y~ur Excellency ... ...... of Turk1uenistan
Honorable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentle1uen,
I
1 It is indeed a pleasure and privilege to address this august event of global
sustainable transport conference, the title of which is very close to the heart ofECO's
I
activities. ECO has a proven record in facilitating regional and international
tr?nsport and removal of unsustainable transport practices. Accordingly sustainable
transport is of prime importance and high relevance to ECO and we appreciate the
S&cretary-General of the United Nations for its timely initiative to convene this
conference with far-reaching repercussions for all components of sustainable
d~' velopment namely economic growth, social development and environmental
su's tainability. I would like to commend the host country, Turkmenistan, a very
significant and proud Member State of the ECO for the excellent arrangements made
arid the warm hospitality extended towards us. ECO will do its utmost to make a
po' sitive contribution to the success of this well-organized process.
Mr. Chairman, honorable guests,
There is consensus in almost all SDG's related literatme that the transport, drives
development, enables trade, tourism, and economic gro\vth and allows people to
access jobs, services, education.
\ However, it is to be underscored that to maximize sustainable benefits of better
transport connectivity to shift merchandize and people, it MUST be safe, efficient,
an'd green in other ,vords; 'sustainable and climate friendly'
Mr. Chairman,
ECO is alive to this ehallenge, especially as it is an organization of ten
de
1
veloping countries of which seven are lancllocked thus making efficient and
sustainable transport connectivity a crucial challenge and endeavor for sustainable
development of the ECO region. ECO's work in the past has been concentrated on
d~vising most efficient road and rail corridors to connect the landlocked ECO
countries to global trading hubs, improving border crossing points through better
management and harmonization of regulations under various UN transport
conventions. ECO 1Norks under three main pillars of economic growth, social
development and environmental sustainability to achieve affordable, safe, efficient
and cleaner transportation.
'
; Accordingly, Mr. Chairman, ECO has endeavored to focus on "et1iciency" as
cqmmon denominator of all three pillars. As far as our regional transport related
activities including ECO corridors and projects are concerned, our studies clearly
in;dicate that the element of efficiency serves economy, society and the environment.
It saves time, cost and resources.
(
Some main barriers identified through studies conducted in ECO region
in'cluding the one conducted with assistance ofIRU are as follows: the inefficiencies
id rail operations, difficulties at border crossings, the use of elated transport and
information technologies, safety related issues and lack of harmonization or
re:gulatory provisions. This is exactly where the idea of transport reform is justified
ai; a necessary means to reach transport sustainability at regional level. To put it
sirnply, ECO is trying to avoid and avert unsustainable practices and inel1icicncies,
through launching a range of corrective measures. __,,-
Given the above and taking fully into account the formative role of Corridors
iti the overall development of Member States and a more integrated approach toward
ti!ansport, Corridor development and corridor management have become an
institutional priority of ECO.
ECO has strived and has been engaged in using corridor-based arrangements
to promote development of its member countries through road and railway smooth
at1d seamless transit system in the region. ECO has worked on two north-south
corridors to connect the northern landlocked member countries to open seas in the
south; the ECO railway between Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran, with a total
le1ngih of about 700 km, serving as the eastern wing, has already been inaugurated
by the presidents of the en-route Member States and ECO is partnering with the
Islamic Development Bank to develop a management mechanism to make its
011erations sustainable and commercially viable. The other north-south connection
between Azerbaijan and Iran is under construction.
On East-\Vest Corridors ECO endeavors to becoming a global bridge
connecting Europe with Asia with shortest and most efficient road, train and mutlimodal
networks; the ECO Container Train on Istanbul-Islamabad Route has been
l()unched since 2010. The ECO Container Train on Istanbul-Almati, Bandar AbbasA'lmaty
Route are well in place. The railway connecting China to Europe through
K'y rgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Atghanistan and Iran is also under feasibility study.
--r--Mr. Chairman, .Honorable guests, Excellenci~s . . _
· I would hke to conclude my remarks with two unportant issues: first, that
ECO is fully committed to the SDGs and realize that sustainable transport is a
b(ickbone in achieving them as development of sustainable transport is directly
n;lated to successful attainment of at least 5 SDGs (SOUS 3 (health; transport
safety), (7; energy), (8; decent work & economic growth), (9; resilient
in' frastructure), (I !;access to sustainable urban transport in sustainable cities), (12;
s(1stainable production and consumption; fossil fuel)). The 2nd issue which also
crucial is that ECO, due to geographical peculiarities, is a bridge between the Europe
ai1cl Asia and having accepted this role tlu·ough its established and planned corridors,
believes that initiatives like the present Conforence will encourage, international
ai1d regional development and financial institutions, governments and other relevant
stakeholders to take steps towards developing mechanisms to partner with ECO and
help in technical aspects as well as financing of corridors of international importance
a11d thus creating an enabling environment for more sustainable transport to
nlaterialize for global good.
Nl1·. Chairman,
I am confident that your able stewardship bears the promise of a gainful and
s(1ccessful meeting leading to important headway towards a more sustainable
tiansport at all levels
I thank you.
-,.F
' l'vfr. Chairman
Y~ur Excellency ... ...... of Turk1uenistan
Honorable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentle1uen,
I
1 It is indeed a pleasure and privilege to address this august event of global
sustainable transport conference, the title of which is very close to the heart ofECO's
I
activities. ECO has a proven record in facilitating regional and international
tr?nsport and removal of unsustainable transport practices. Accordingly sustainable
transport is of prime importance and high relevance to ECO and we appreciate the
S&cretary-General of the United Nations for its timely initiative to convene this
conference with far-reaching repercussions for all components of sustainable
d~' velopment namely economic growth, social development and environmental
su's tainability. I would like to commend the host country, Turkmenistan, a very
significant and proud Member State of the ECO for the excellent arrangements made
arid the warm hospitality extended towards us. ECO will do its utmost to make a
po' sitive contribution to the success of this well-organized process.
Mr. Chairman, honorable guests,
There is consensus in almost all SDG's related literatme that the transport, drives
development, enables trade, tourism, and economic gro\vth and allows people to
access jobs, services, education.
\ However, it is to be underscored that to maximize sustainable benefits of better
transport connectivity to shift merchandize and people, it MUST be safe, efficient,
an'd green in other ,vords; 'sustainable and climate friendly'
Mr. Chairman,
ECO is alive to this ehallenge, especially as it is an organization of ten
de
1
veloping countries of which seven are lancllocked thus making efficient and
sustainable transport connectivity a crucial challenge and endeavor for sustainable
development of the ECO region. ECO's work in the past has been concentrated on
d~vising most efficient road and rail corridors to connect the landlocked ECO
countries to global trading hubs, improving border crossing points through better
management and harmonization of regulations under various UN transport
conventions. ECO 1Norks under three main pillars of economic growth, social
development and environmental sustainability to achieve affordable, safe, efficient
and cleaner transportation.
'
; Accordingly, Mr. Chairman, ECO has endeavored to focus on "et1iciency" as
cqmmon denominator of all three pillars. As far as our regional transport related
activities including ECO corridors and projects are concerned, our studies clearly
in;dicate that the element of efficiency serves economy, society and the environment.
It saves time, cost and resources.
(
Some main barriers identified through studies conducted in ECO region
in'cluding the one conducted with assistance ofIRU are as follows: the inefficiencies
id rail operations, difficulties at border crossings, the use of elated transport and
information technologies, safety related issues and lack of harmonization or
re:gulatory provisions. This is exactly where the idea of transport reform is justified
ai; a necessary means to reach transport sustainability at regional level. To put it
sirnply, ECO is trying to avoid and avert unsustainable practices and inel1icicncies,
through launching a range of corrective measures. __,,-
Given the above and taking fully into account the formative role of Corridors
iti the overall development of Member States and a more integrated approach toward
ti!ansport, Corridor development and corridor management have become an
institutional priority of ECO.
ECO has strived and has been engaged in using corridor-based arrangements
to promote development of its member countries through road and railway smooth
at1d seamless transit system in the region. ECO has worked on two north-south
corridors to connect the northern landlocked member countries to open seas in the
south; the ECO railway between Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran, with a total
le1ngih of about 700 km, serving as the eastern wing, has already been inaugurated
by the presidents of the en-route Member States and ECO is partnering with the
Islamic Development Bank to develop a management mechanism to make its
011erations sustainable and commercially viable. The other north-south connection
between Azerbaijan and Iran is under construction.
On East-\Vest Corridors ECO endeavors to becoming a global bridge
connecting Europe with Asia with shortest and most efficient road, train and mutlimodal
networks; the ECO Container Train on Istanbul-Islamabad Route has been
l()unched since 2010. The ECO Container Train on Istanbul-Almati, Bandar AbbasA'lmaty
Route are well in place. The railway connecting China to Europe through
K'y rgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Atghanistan and Iran is also under feasibility study.
--r--Mr. Chairman, .Honorable guests, Excellenci~s . . _
· I would hke to conclude my remarks with two unportant issues: first, that
ECO is fully committed to the SDGs and realize that sustainable transport is a
b(ickbone in achieving them as development of sustainable transport is directly
n;lated to successful attainment of at least 5 SDGs (SOUS 3 (health; transport
safety), (7; energy), (8; decent work & economic growth), (9; resilient
in' frastructure), (I !;access to sustainable urban transport in sustainable cities), (12;
s(1stainable production and consumption; fossil fuel)). The 2nd issue which also
crucial is that ECO, due to geographical peculiarities, is a bridge between the Europe
ai1cl Asia and having accepted this role tlu·ough its established and planned corridors,
believes that initiatives like the present Conforence will encourage, international
ai1d regional development and financial institutions, governments and other relevant
stakeholders to take steps towards developing mechanisms to partner with ECO and
help in technical aspects as well as financing of corridors of international importance
a11d thus creating an enabling environment for more sustainable transport to
nlaterialize for global good.
Nl1·. Chairman,
I am confident that your able stewardship bears the promise of a gainful and
s(1ccessful meeting leading to important headway towards a more sustainable
tiansport at all levels
I thank you.