ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (ECO) Regional Policy Dialogue on strengthening Transport Connectivity in Southern Asia International Conference on the (new Delhi, 19-20 November 2014) Zukhra Abisheva, Programme Officer, Directorate of Transport and Communications
Introduction ECO Region
Regional studies to implement 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 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.
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 6 th Transit Transport Coordination Council (Tehran, December 2013).
Corridor study 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 11 th Meeting of the Heads of ECO Railway Authorities, held in Ankara in June, 2012.
Development of the ECO Road and Rail Corridors
ECO corridor Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Road Corridor Further to the decisions of the 8 th 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 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.
ECO corridor Kyrgyz-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran Road Corridor Further to the decisions of the 8 th 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 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. 3 rd HLWG on KTAI (Tehran, October 2014) approved the TOR to start the field study.
ECO corridor 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 corridor 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.
ECO corridor 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.
ECO Corridor 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 3 rd 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). 3 rd 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 1 st HLWG back to back with the inauguration of the Turkmen segment.
ECO Corridor 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 Corridor 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 Corridor 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
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.
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) 4 Temporary Importation of Commercial Road Vehicles (1956) 5 International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR Carnets (1975) x x x x x x x x x x x 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) 11 Temporary Importation of Vehicles (1954) x 12 International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR, 1957) x x x x x 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 x x Related Installations (AGTC, 1991) 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
Transit facilitation 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 30 th May to 19 th 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, 2 nd September 2014. The 3 rd 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 4 th Regional Conference on TIR Convention, Pakistan.
Transit Facilitation 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. 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.
Thank You