Prospects for trans-Asian and Eurasian transit transport development are being discussed at a two-day conference which opened in Dushanbe on 23 October.

The two-day event was organized by the OSCE and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.

Over 140 high-level representatives from national transport ministries, customs agencies, ministries of trade and economics, business associations, international and non-governmental organizations, and international financial institutions will exchange views on ways to effectively address the transit transport problems of OSCE landlocked developing countries in the region.

"We hope this conference will act as a catalyst for enhanced inter-governmental co-operation and co-ordination of transit transport policies in the Central Asia and South Caucasus regions," said Hamrokhon Zarifi, Tajik Foreign Minister.

Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe, added: "The role of the OSCE in addressing problems of landlocked countries is not in building roads and bridges, other organizations already play an extremely relevant role in this regard. The OSCE can offers a platform for dialogue - a forum where high-level officials and experts can discuss issues and find solutions in a co-operative atmosphere."

The Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, Bernard Snoy added: "The link between trade and transport is indivisible and leads to economic growth and to increased stability and security in the countries concerned."

The Conference was organized under a Ministerial Council Decision on Future Transport Dialogue in the OSCE adopted in Brussels in December 2006. It contributes to a regional mid-term review of the UN endorsed Almaty Programme of Action, designed to help landlocked countries overcome their specific transit transport problems and challenges.