Asia-Pacific: UN official urges deeper regional connectivity for landlocked developing countries

7 November 2014 – Greater regional connectivity through integrated and terrestrial networks is vital to effectively linking Asia’s 12 landlocked development countries (LLDCs) to the region’s infrastructure networks, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) said today.

“Over the last decade, Asian LLDCs have performed relatively well and infrastructure improvements in some LLDCs show that with large-scale investments and prioritization in policy planning, LLDCs can match, if not outperform the achievements of neighbouring sea-accessing countries,” said Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

She called for stronger political commitment and the increased involvement of public and private sectors at the launch of the Bridging Transport, ICT and Energy Infrastructure Gaps for Seamless Regional Connectivity report at the Second UN Conference on LLDCs, which was held in Vienna, Austria, from 3 to 5 November.

“However, regional connectivity remains an unfinished agenda for LLDCs,” she added. “Bridging infrastructure gaps remain a complex and expensive medium-to long-term challenge, and one that will require strong political commitment and the involvement of a range of multi-sectoral stakeholders in the public and private sectors.” More