UNESCAP and Facilitation of International Road

Transport

7th IRU Euro-Asian Road Transport Conference

Amman, Jordan, 12-13 June 2013

Mr. Li Yuwei, ChiefTransport Facilitation and Logistics SectionTransport Division

Overview of Int’l Road Transport in Asia

Extensive routes or no route limitNo permit or more liberalized permit Part of Central Asia-South Caucasus-North Asia, Lao

PDR-Thailand, Lao PDR-Viet Nam Limited designated routes

Subject to permit Northeast Asia, Part of Northeast Asia-Part of Southeast

Asia, Part of Northeast Asia-Central Asia, Central Asia-Part of South Asia, Part of South Asia

Trans-loading at border crossings Most part of South Asia, Part of Southeast Asia, Part of

Northeast Asia-Part of Southeast Asia

Lack of operational connectivity Northeast-South Asia, Southeast Asia-South Asia

International Road Transportin Central & Northeast Asia

International Road Transportin South & Southeast Asia

Major Challenges in Int’l Road Transport

Limited geographical scope for international road transport

Many trans-loading activities at/near border crossings

Large use of single-trip transport permit

Difficulties in arrangements for temporary importation and insurance of vehicles

Difficulties for drivers to obtain visas

Less harmonized documentation, standards, formalities and procedures

Complicated formalities and procedures for crossing borders

Insufficient facilities and equipment at border crossings

Shortage of skilled professional drivers

Addressing Challenges by Countriesand Development Partners

Acceding to key international conventions relating to international road transport (UNESCAP resolution 48/11)

Signed 42 subregional agreements and hundred+ bilateral agreements relating to international road transport

Opening more routes for international road transport

Implementing joint Customs controls and harmonization in Central and Northeast Asia

Harmonization of vehicle standards by ASEAN, CIS and ECO

Single window/single stop inspection at border crossings in Greater Mekong Subregion

Improving facilities and equipment of border crossings

Implementation of APoA in Asia

Acceding to key international conventions relating to international road transport (UNESCAP resolution 48/11) Large progress in Central Asia and South Caucasus Some progress in other subregions (Lao PDR and

Mongolia) Subregional agreements relating to international

road transport Partial implementation

Corridor development Ongoing

Simplification of formalities and procedures Ongoing

UNESCAP System for Road Transport Facilitation

Regional Strategic Frameworkfor the Facilitation of

International Road Transport

Facilitation tools• ECBT Model• SCBT Model• IBCM Model• T/C-D Model

Guidelines• National coordination• Coordination at BC• Policy• Legal issues

• Implementation plan

• Indicators

• Status report

Regional Network of Legal andTechnical Experts for TransportFacilitation

• Regional legal regime- Int’l conventions- Subregional agreements- Bilateral agreements- Rules/regulations

• Technologies

Capacity Building Policy SupportTechnical Assistance

Regional Strategic Framework Common targets/strategies for essential issues

1. Road transport permits & traffic rights2. Visas for professional drivers & crew3. Temporary importation of road vehicles4. Insurance of vehicles5. Vehicle weights & dimensions6. Vehicle registration & inspection certificates

Common approaches for key modalities for facilitation

1. Building an effective legal regime2. Wider application of new technologies3. Development of professional training4. Establishment/strengthening of national coordination

mechanisms5. Promotion of joint control at border crossings6. Promotion of economic zones at border crossings, dry

ports and logistics centres7. Further application of facilitation tools

UNESCAP Transport Facilitation Tools

Four mutually complementary models Secure Cross-border Transport Model: providing real

time monitoring en-route Model on Integrated Controls at Border Crossings:

simplified and streamlined procedures at border crossings

Efficient Cross-border Transport Model: more efficient transport arrangement across borders

Time/Cost-Distance Methodology: identifying barriers and monitoring performance

Features Provide more flexible, secure, efficient and reliable

options for cross-border transport

Applications to corridors or countries

Regional Network of Legal and Technical Experts for Transport Facilitation

Objectives:Objectives: Exchange information Share experience Suggest ways to accelerate accession to conventions Identify areas of legal conflicts between different legal

instruments and suggest solutions Suggest ways to connect different subregions Suggest ways to manage large number of agreements Provide legal and technical support

Activities:Activities: Information and experience sharing, seminars, expert

meetings, professional training, group studies and individual studies, legal/technical support

Open for application (Open for application (http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/common/TFS/LegalNetwork/Legal-Network.asp))

Thank you!Thank you!