Iran
Mr. Co-Chair,
Excellencies;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
I express my appreciation to the panelists for their comments. I also
associate myself with the statement made by the representative of
Pakistan on behalf of G-77 and China.
Transport is a major vehicle for economic growth of countries, have
direct impact on socio-economic and environmental livelihood of
countries. Sufficient infrastructures as well as efficient, clean and
affordable transport services have positive impacts on poverty alleviation,
expansion of trade, creation of jobs and communication. Rural transport
infrastructure is an absolute necessity to bring agricultural products to
consumption markets which in turn, contributes to long term sustainable
development in rural area in developing countries. The Iranian Plateau
with its mountainous landscape has always been a natural obstacle to easy
ways of communication. Nevertheless from ancient times up to the
present, important trading routes have been finding their way through the
region: among them the famous Silk Road. In this connection, Islamic
Republic of Iran in the past three decades has invested gigantic amounts
on road and railroad construction projects and connected remote areas to
major cities. Through these roads, some of the land-locked neighboring
countries are also connected to main ports. Numerous bridges and tunnels
have been constructed to surmount the natural obstacles. The Government
of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been active in expanding and diversify
its transport routes not only at the national and regional levels but even
beyond regional level. The country?s railway links to most of its
neighboring countries and will soon close the remaining gap between
European and Indian subcontinent rail network. With the opening of the
Silk Road railway to Turkmenistan, merchandises from Central Asia find
a convenient way to the sea crossing Iran by rail.
We are aware of impacts of using fossil fuels in transportation on climate
change. In line of reduction of emission, Government of the Islamic
Republic of Iran has developed BRT system and has alternated CNG to
gasoline in mostly public transport in Metropolitan cites. After 3 years
from the start, it currently enjoys some 1.5 millions of CNG Vehicles
nation-wide. Also, a joint scrappage program, co-sponsored by the
government and the local auto manufacture, resulted in scrapping
approximately one million old cars and light pickups thus improving air
quality, reducing energy consumption and promoting safety.
Implementation of such program in most developing countries is a must.
Iran one of the most important transit developing countries with particular
geographical position is hosting very important multimodal transportation
routes that development and maintenance of them created great
challenges .If these concerns and challenges are not addressed these will
hamper the cooperation among transit developing countries. Moreover
development and maintenance of infrastructure require greater share of
investment, financial assistance from donors, international financial
institutions and development assistance agencies. To further encourage
integrated cross-border infrastructure investment, Islamic Republic of
Iran and ESCAP have jointly set up two workshops recently focusing to
facilitate rail and road transit transport. My country is also on the verge of
accession to the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA)
which aims at promoting and facilitating transit transport. These efforts
by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran have addressed
sustainable development goals in Agenda 21 and the World Summit on
Sustainable Development on transport.
Mr.C0- Chair
I thank you.
Excellencies;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
I express my appreciation to the panelists for their comments. I also
associate myself with the statement made by the representative of
Pakistan on behalf of G-77 and China.
Transport is a major vehicle for economic growth of countries, have
direct impact on socio-economic and environmental livelihood of
countries. Sufficient infrastructures as well as efficient, clean and
affordable transport services have positive impacts on poverty alleviation,
expansion of trade, creation of jobs and communication. Rural transport
infrastructure is an absolute necessity to bring agricultural products to
consumption markets which in turn, contributes to long term sustainable
development in rural area in developing countries. The Iranian Plateau
with its mountainous landscape has always been a natural obstacle to easy
ways of communication. Nevertheless from ancient times up to the
present, important trading routes have been finding their way through the
region: among them the famous Silk Road. In this connection, Islamic
Republic of Iran in the past three decades has invested gigantic amounts
on road and railroad construction projects and connected remote areas to
major cities. Through these roads, some of the land-locked neighboring
countries are also connected to main ports. Numerous bridges and tunnels
have been constructed to surmount the natural obstacles. The Government
of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been active in expanding and diversify
its transport routes not only at the national and regional levels but even
beyond regional level. The country?s railway links to most of its
neighboring countries and will soon close the remaining gap between
European and Indian subcontinent rail network. With the opening of the
Silk Road railway to Turkmenistan, merchandises from Central Asia find
a convenient way to the sea crossing Iran by rail.
We are aware of impacts of using fossil fuels in transportation on climate
change. In line of reduction of emission, Government of the Islamic
Republic of Iran has developed BRT system and has alternated CNG to
gasoline in mostly public transport in Metropolitan cites. After 3 years
from the start, it currently enjoys some 1.5 millions of CNG Vehicles
nation-wide. Also, a joint scrappage program, co-sponsored by the
government and the local auto manufacture, resulted in scrapping
approximately one million old cars and light pickups thus improving air
quality, reducing energy consumption and promoting safety.
Implementation of such program in most developing countries is a must.
Iran one of the most important transit developing countries with particular
geographical position is hosting very important multimodal transportation
routes that development and maintenance of them created great
challenges .If these concerns and challenges are not addressed these will
hamper the cooperation among transit developing countries. Moreover
development and maintenance of infrastructure require greater share of
investment, financial assistance from donors, international financial
institutions and development assistance agencies. To further encourage
integrated cross-border infrastructure investment, Islamic Republic of
Iran and ESCAP have jointly set up two workshops recently focusing to
facilitate rail and road transit transport. My country is also on the verge of
accession to the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA)
which aims at promoting and facilitating transit transport. These efforts
by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran have addressed
sustainable development goals in Agenda 21 and the World Summit on
Sustainable Development on transport.
Mr.C0- Chair
I thank you.
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