It is a new 5-year regional programme (2017-2021) for enhancing transport connectivity with balanced integration of economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. It is centred with an integrated intermodal transport system, which optimizes the development of interconnected highways, railways, waterways, ports; minimizes consumption of energy, land and other resources; generates lower emissions of greenhouse gases, ozone depleting substances and other pollutants; and minimizes the adverse social impacts arising from transport construction and operations. The system also incorporates rural poverty alleviation, urban congestion and road safety. It assists developing countries in achieving such a transport system.

It will be implemented by ESCAP in cooperation with members and associated members as well as international, regional and subregional partners. ESCAP will plan and organize activities according to the programme endorsed by the ministerial conference. ESCAP will undertake research and analysis on legal instruments, standards and tools, and facilitate intergovernmental process to consider and adopt the instruments, standards and tools. ESCAP will then organize capacity building seminars, workshops and advisory services to disseminate the products and assist members and associate members in applying the products. In the implementation process, ESCAP will cooperate with partners at different stages according to the need and mutual interests.

The new programme focuses on capacity building of developing countries, in particular least developed, landlocked developing and small island developing states, for achieving sustainable transport connectivity. ESCAP will help developing countries develop their capacity in formulating and implementing policies and plans to enhance transport connectivity with incorporation of SDGs, negotiating intergovernmental agreements and norms to support physical and operational connectivity in a sustainable manner, applying sustainable transport connectivity tools, and supporting intergovernmental platform to achieve smart and green transport corridors. Joint capacity building activities with other relevant agencies, organizations and institutions will be encouraged in the implementation process.

The programme will be coordinated through an intergovernmental committee on transport under the ESCAP commission, which holds meetings biennially with participation of governments, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, international financing institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and research institutes. The committee reviews progress of the programme, discusses new emerging issues, provides guidance on the future direction, and adopts key outcomes of the programme. At the end of the programme, a ministerial conference will be organized to review progress of the programme in the five years and consider and adopt a new programme.

62 members and associate members of ESCAP, UNCTAD, UN-OHRLLS, WB, ADB, AIIB, IDB, OSJD, ASEAN, ECO, EEC, SAARC, SCO, GTI, SPC, UITP, UIC and FIATA