Your Excellency,
Mr. Berik Kamaliyev, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
Honourable Ministers,
Heads of Delegations from International and Regional organizations,
Excellencies,
It is an honour and privilege for me to participate in this VIII International Conference “TransEurasia. I extend my warmest gratitudes to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in particular, His Excellency Mr. Berik Kamaliyev, the Honourable Minister of Transport and Communications, for the warm welcome and traditional hospitality accorded to us.
I am confident that the presence of such distinguished gathering will enhance regional and international cooperation to strengthen transport linkages between Asia and Europe.
Excellencies,
ECO has been successful in promoting multi-dimensional regional cooperation and creating proper conditions for sustainable socio-economic growth and development. ECO in accordance with the objectives enshrined in its charter is committed to ensure sustained economic development of the regions by overcoming all physical and non-physical as well as legal and procedural impediments.
To achieve this objective in transport sector, we have formulated a Transit Transport Framework agreement (TTFA) and its subsidiary committees to implement rail and road part of TTFA and to clear legal, insurance and visa issues. Eight out of ten Member States have ratified this agreement whereas one country is signatory.
Distinguished delegates,
The ECO is actively engaged in identifying programmes in the sector of Transport and Communication and have taken concrete steps towards achieving economic integration. We feel that intra-regional trade, tourism, people to people contacts and cultural exchanges constitute the basic requirements for the economic development of the region. Since our region is situated at the heart of the main North-South and East-West Corridors and connects East and South-East Asia to Middle East and Europe, therefore, in view of the geopolitical location of the region, we have initiated number of important rail and road projects to establish connectivity between Asia-Europe and China
Ladies and Gentlemen,
ECO Container train on Islamabad – Tehran – Istanbul route started its regular operation since August, 2010. Initially it was planned to operate once a month but due to the demand of the private sector we have to increase its frequency from once in a month to twice in a month, and hopefully soon to once a week due to heavy cargo availability. We are ready to connect this train line with European block train if it is so desired.
In 2010 the ECO commenced a feasibility study on revitalizing the ECO Container Trains on Istanbul – Almaty route and starting a schedule-based container freight service on Almaty – Bandar Abbas Route. In this regard, I am pleased to inform that the Demonstration Run of Bandar Abbas – Almaty Train has been inaugurated on 17 October 2011 in Bandar Abbas on the sidelines of the ECO’s International Conference on Transit and Logistics. The operationalization of this direct train shall greatly contribute to facilitate access of enroute landlocked countries Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to a well established seaport in Iran.
Significant progress has been achieved in the construction of the railway on Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan – Iran route. The Trilateral Coordination Committee under the aegis of the ECO has taken concrete measures to complete the Project by the end of December 2011. The completion of this railway line shall create contribute greatly to create new business opportunities for the enroute Member States.
We have also identified another 2400 km long rail corridor from Iran to Kashghar through Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Islamic Republic of Iran has already constructed a railway line from Sangan to Heart and financial feasibility study from Heart to Shirkhan Bandar has been completed by ADB and inside the territory of Tajikistan the study is being carried out by an Iranian Company under the technical assistance of Islamic Republic of Iran. On completion of feasibility studies in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan we will convene a conference of international financial institutions to assure funding for this important project.
Excellencies,
During September-October 2010, the ECO Silk Road Demonstration Truck Caravan, comprised of trucks from eight member states and a team of ECO/IRU experts, made 11,400 km demonstration journey across the region. This historical project made headway in enhancing regional cooperation in road transport. Inspired by the successful launch of the Demonstration Truck the ECO initiated the Regular Monitored Run of Trucks in 2011 in partnership with IRU, involving 1.000 real commercial journeys during 6 months. The project is about to finish soon and a comprehensive report will be prepared on the outcome of this regular monitored run. We hope that this report will help the Member States to remove the physical and non-physical barriers in the benefit of smooth flow of transit transport in their territory.
We have also planned to establish two road transport corridors, one between Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul, and the other between Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The aim of these Projects is to promote and develop the East-West and North-South road transport corridors.
Dear delegates
It goes without saying that international conventions play a vital role in facilitating the movement of people and material across the international boundaries. The ECO Member States have acceded international conventions relating to rail and road and this has facilitated the movement of goods in our region. By the same token ECO has signed more than 30 MOUs, with various international organizations devoted to the same goals and objectives and a number of activities are being implemented with the cooperation of our partner organizations. In this regard the cooperation and contribution of the International Road Union is particularly appreciated.
Before concluding, let me to assure you that ECO is committed to create linkage between Europe and Asia and we are confident that the present meeting will contribute to reaching concrete action oriented decisions
I wish all the participants success in their deliberations.
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