Regional Policy Dialogue on strengthening Transport

Connectivity in Southern Asia International Conference on the

(new Delhi, 19-20 November 2014)

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (ECO)

Zukhra Abisheva,

Programme Officer,

Directorate of Transport and Communications

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ECO Region

Regional studies to implement TTFA

ECO/IDB Joint Project on implementation of TTFA

Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA) is ECO’s basic document in the transport sector.

TTFA entered into force in 2006. Eight out of ten member states are Contracting parties to TTFA.

Technical Assistance Agreement (Grant) was signed between ECO and IDB (2009 ) to prepare a Regional Program for the implementation of TTFA .

Corridor Management Studies under the

Project (road and railway) were conducted

with the aim to:

• Develop a reliable and efficient road and

railway transport networks in the ECO

region;

• Promote intra-regional transport

connections through the promotion of cost

effective transport corridors;

• Suggest improvement of the existing

infrastructure to meet the new demands.

ECO/IDB Joint Project on implementation of TTFA

ECO Road Network Development

Plan

Defined seven priority ECO

Road routes with branches

Identified around forty seven

regionally important

infrastructure projects along the

ECO road routes for priority

development

Developed an Investment Plan

for the priority projects. with the

estimated cost of US$21bln, out

of which approximately 48%

projects with the secured funds.

This Plan was approved by the 6th

Transit Transport Coordination

Council (Tehran, December 2013).

ECO/IDB Joint Project on implementation of TTFA

ECO Railway Network

Development Plan

Defined five priority ECO Rail

routes with branches

Identified about forty regionally

important infrastructure projects

along the routes for priority

development.

Developed an Investment Plan

for the priority projects. with the

estimated cost of US$43 bln, out

of which 38% of projects with

the secured funds.

This Plan was approved by the 11th

Meeting of the Heads of ECO

Railway Authorities, held in Ankara

in June, 2012.

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Development of the

ECO Road and Rail Corridors

ECO

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Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Road Corridor

The HLWG adopted an Action Plan for the Establishment of the Corridor, agreed that TIR System

will be applied along the Corridor,; approved the routes and border crossing points; decided that a

field study will be conducted with involvement of International Consultant and national

consultants.

Further to the decisions of the 8th Meeting of the ECO Transport Ministers (Ashgabat,

2011), arrangements for establishing a road corridor between Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul

was initiated. The Corridor is being coordinated by the ECO High Level Working Group

ECO

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Kyrgyz-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran Road Corridor

The HLWG adopted an Action Plan for the Establishment of the Corridor, agreed that TIR System

will be applied along the Corridor,; approved the routes and border crossing points; decided that a

field study to be conducted with involvement of International Consultant and national consultants.

3rd HLWG on KTAI (Tehran, October 2014) approved the TOR to start the field study.

Further to the decisions of the 8th Meeting of the ECO Transport Ministers (Ashgabat,

2011), arrangements for establishing a road corridor between Kyrgyz Republic-Tajikistan-

Afghanistan-Iran was initiated. The Corridor is being coordinated by the ECO High Level

Working Group

ECO Container Train on Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul route

.

The ECO Container Train on Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Route (6543 km) has begun its

scheduled and regular operation since August 2010. Its operation is being coordinated by a

High Level Working Group which agreed on timetable, tariffs, transshipment fees and other

technicalities of the train. As of end 2014 the running time is around 14 days.

ECO

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ECO Container Train on Istanbul-Almaty Route

This route is the most direct and feasible transport route which can facilitate East-

Asian trade with Europe through Central Asia. Total distance of route is 5626 km.

The route is operational since 2002. HLWG is following up timetable, tariff and other

technical matters to streamline the train services.

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ECO Container Train on Bandar Abbas-Almaty Route

The first demonstration run of the ECO Container Train on Bandar Abbas-Almaty Route

(3710 km) was organized on 17 October 2011 from Bandar Abbas.

HLWG is following up timetable, tariff and other technical matters to streamline the train

services.

Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran Railway Project

The Iranian segment (90 Km) and the segment in

Kazakhstan (146 km) were completed and

INAUGURATED in May 2013. Turkmen segment will be

inaugurated on 3rd December 2014

with participation of high dignitaries from ECO member

states and international organizations.

The Project is coordinated by ECO through Tripartite Coordination Committee (TCC) . 3rd TCC meeting (Tehran, March 2014) agreed on tariffs, common legal framework to operate the train . It also decided to establish a commercial working group through ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry to study and offer guidelines to attract and increase cargo. ECO suggested to hold the 1st HLWG back to back with the inauguration of the Turkmen segment.

ECO

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The Republic of Azerbaijan-Iran Railway Project

The Qazvin-Rasht- Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) Railway Project has three parts. Two

parts, namely Qazvinn-Rasht and Rasht-Astara s with a total length of about 369 km are located

in Iran, and one part (less than 10 km) is located in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Two field visits

were organized in 2013 by Iran Railways in collaboration with ECO to be familiarized with the

ongoing construction works in the Iranian segments.

ECO

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The Republic of Azerbaijan-Iran Railway Project )

About 80% progress has already been achieved so far in Qazvin-Rasht Segment (164 km)

of Qazvin-Rasht-Astara (Iran-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway which means 60% progress in the

whole Qazvin-Rasht-Astara route.

As regards the Rasht-Astara segment with the total length of 163 km (plus 41 km on

Rasht-Anzali), the design of its railway line has been approved.

ECO

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ECO

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Kyrgyz Republic-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI) Rail Project

The Project of construction of railway from China to Europe through Kyrgyz Republic-

Tajikistan- Afghanistan -Iran (KTAI) is coordinated by ECO. The total length of the (Kashghar-

Herat) route is around 2155 km. The total length of Sangan (Iran)-Herat Railway line is 191 km

out of which 76 kilometers lying in Iranian territory has already been constructed.

The feasibility study in Tajik segment is completed with the assistance of Iran. 60% progress has

been achieved in construction of the sub-segment between Chah-e-Sorkh (border with Iran) to

Rozanak area of Herat province. The feasibility study for the sub-segment between Faryab and

Mazare-Sharif is due to be completed soon. The remaining sub-segments of Afghanistan still

require conducting feasibility studies and construction

Transit Facilitation

Accession to international conventions

ECO plays an active role in promoting and facilitating the accession of

its member states to important international conventions and

agreements in the field of transport , in close cooperation with the

relevant international organizations and institutions

Examples of ECO’s activities in this field in 2012-2013:

Reactivation of the TIR Convention in Afghanistan in 2013 in coordination with

ECO and IRU .

Membership of Afghanistan to OSJD

Membership of the Afghanistan Rail Authority (AfRA) to the International Union

of Railways (UIC) as December 2013

Internal procedures for Pakistan’s accession to the TIR Convention is at the final

stage, in coordination with ECO and IRU

Pakistan’s accession to COTIF is successfully completed, in close coordination

with ECO/OTIF in 2013

The Republic of Azerbaijan’s accession to COTIF at final stages.

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Status of accession of the ECO Member States to major international

agreements/conventions As of October 2014

№ International Agreements and Conventions

AFG AZE IRN KAZ KGZ PAK TJK

TRK TKM UZB

1 Road Traffic (1968) x x x x x x x x x

2 Road Signs and Signals (1968) x x x x x x x x

3 Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road

(CMR, 1956)

x x x x x x x

4 Temporary Importation of Commercial Road Vehicles

(1956)

x x x x

5 International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR

Carnets (1975)

x x x x x x x x x

6 Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods (1982) x x x x x x

7 Customs Container Convention (1972) x x x x

10 Work of Crews of Vehicles engaged in International Road

Traffic (AETR, 1970)

x x x x x

11 Temporary Importation of Vehicles (1954) x

12 International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR,

1957)

x x x

13 International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs (ATP, 1970) x x x x

14 Main International Traffic Arteries (AGR, 1975) x x

15 Main International Railway Lines (AGC, 1985) x

16 Important International Combined Transport Lines and

Related Installations (AGTC, 1991)

x x

17. Agreement on International carriage of Goods (SMGS)

x x x x x x x x

18. Convention concerning International Carriage of Goods by

Rail (COTIF)

x x x

Capacity building activities

Workshops/training courses/conference held in 2014:

Training Course for Afghan Railway Staff organized by the Islamic Republic of Iran

Railways from 30th May to 19th June 2014 in the city of Yazd,

Capacity Building Workshop on TIR for Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, 18-

22 August 2014.

The Regional Workshop on Third Party Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance, Istanbul,

2nd September 2014.

The 3rd ECO/IRU Regional Conference on Transit Transport and the TIR System,

Tehran, 26 October 2014.

OTIF/UIC/ECO Workshop on COTIF, Tehran, 11-12 November 2014

Workshops/training courses/conference planned for 2015:

Regional Capacity Building Workshop on ADR, modernization of border crossing

points and tachographs, Turkey

Regional workshop on road safety, Pakistan

Training courses for Afghan Railway Staff to be organized by Turkish Railways

4th Regional Conference on TIR Convention, Pakistan.

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The main objective of the study is to:

Define possible options for effective implementation of the customs transit

related provisions of TTFA;

Identify the prioritization of actions and ranking of activities to be undertaken

within a favourable timeframe;

Recommend an implementation plan with a defined and preferred timeframe;

Identify a regional model of logistic centre and customs/border gate along one

of the main corridors.

Regional study on customs component of TTFA

The ECO is in close contact with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to

commence the second phase of the Project on TTFA for preparing a regional

programme on customs transit and modernization of border crossing points in the

region.

A delegation of the ECO Secretariat will visit the IDB headquarters on this matter

soon until the end 2014.

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Thank You