1

22ndnd Expert Group Meeting Expert Group Meeting Euro-Asian Transport LinkagesEuro-Asian Transport Linkages

3-5 November 2004, Odessa3-5 November 2004, Odessa

Asian Highway Network

providing

Euro-Asian Highway Linkages

M. B. Regmi

Transport and Tourism Division

UNESCAP

• Issues and challenges in developing international highway linkages

• Asian Highway Network

• Status of international roads (AH) in Central Asia and Caucasus

• Investment and priorities for the development of the Asian Highway

• Conclusions

Presentation Outline Presentation Outline

3

Development of the International Highway Linkages: Issues and Challenges

• Standards and condition of infrastructure

• Maintenance and upgrading of infrastructure

• Financing development and maintenance of highway infrastructure

• Facilitation of border crossings

• Coordination among countries and agencies

• Goal: To promote regional cooperation/trade• Criteria for identification of routes:

– Capital to capital links

– Industrial and agricultural centres

– Sea, river and air ports

– Container terminals & depots

– Tourism attractions

• Maximize use of existing infrastructure

• Coordinated plan for development

Asian HighwayAsian Highway

5

Formulation of the Asian Highway Formulation of the Asian Highway

North-East Asia 2002

South East and South Asia 1993

Central Asia 1995

6

• 27 member States signed the Agreement – 26 signed at Shanghai in April 2004 and Malaysia signed at

New York

– 3 definitive signatures and 3 ratifications

• Contracting Parties

– Adopt AH network

– Negotiating procedures

– Conform to AH design standards– Display AH signs

• Working Group on the Asian Highway – Provides negotiating forum

The Intergovernmental Agreement The Intergovernmental Agreement

Conformity to the Asian Highway Standard

Unreported 2%

2,700 km

Class III 29%

41,600 km

Class II - 30%

42,900 km

Class I - 8%

11,000 km

Below III 17%

23,700 km

Primary - 14%

19,600 km

9

Status of the Asian HighwayStatus of the Asian Highway

10

AH providing Euro Asia Highway Linkages

Urumqi

Moscow

Tashkent

Kashi

Tehran

Istanbul

Baku

11

Euro-Asian Highway LinkagesEuro-Asian Highway Linkages

12

Statusof Roads

13

Status of the Asian Highway in Silk Road Area

Class III, 23,409, 27%

Class II, 40,381, 48%

Class I, 3,444, 4%

Primary, 8,877, 10%

Below III, 9,413, 11%

Status of Asian Highway in CA and Caucasus

14

Condition of Highway

15

Traffic

• Upgrading of the Network below Class III to minimum Class III (2 lanes, Paved)

• Rehabilitation, upgrading of AH sections to Class II or above standards

• Maintenance of Asian Highway routes

• Policy initiatives for sustainable maintenance

The Intergovernmental Agreement The Intergovernmental Agreement Development and Upgrading of the Asian Highway

17

Asian Highway: Investment needs and Priorities

• Review current status of the Asian Highway network

• Assessment of investment requirements for construction, upgrading and maintenance

• Intermodal connections

• Identify AH national and subregional priorities

• Showcase identified priority projects• Subregional Expert Group Meetings

18

Prioritization process

• Part of Regional/Subregional Network/National Priority

• Provide inter-country links/links to land locked country

• Does not meet Class III• Sections in poor condition• Sections nearing traffic capacity• Sections with high potential/socio-economic

benefits• Country input

19

Improvement and facilitation of transport across border

International Transport ConventionsESCAP resolution: 48/11–seven transport facilitation conventions

Road Traffic, Road Signs and Signals TIR Conventions, Temporary Importation of Commercial

Vehicles, Customs Convention on Containers Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods, International

Carriage of Goods by Road

Transport Facilitation AgreementsFacilitation of land transport in the Greater Mekong Subregion (with ADB)Intergovernmental Agreement on International Road Transport with Shanghai Cooperation Organization

20

Forthcoming UNESCAP Transport Activities

• Subcommittee on Transport Infrastructure and Facilitation and Tourism, 24-25 November 2004, Bangkok, Thailand

• SPECA Project Working Group Meeting on Transport and Border Crossing, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 9-10 December 2004

• Expert Group Meeting on Identifying Investment needs and Priorities for the development of Asian Highway Network, January 2005, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

21

Conclusions

• Prioritization of investment for road infrastructure development, upgrading and maintenance

• Road Transport Facilitation Agreements/Arrangements: SCO

• The Intergovernmental Agreement on AH– entry into force, and be catalyst for coordinated development of

regional highways

• Working Group on the Asian Highway: provides forum for regular contacts: negotiations, sharing and exchange of experiences information

For more information on UNESCAP transport activities:

http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/index.asp

Email: regmi.unescap@un.org