Press Release No. G/37/99
24 November 1999
BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) -Transport and communications officials and experts from the Asia-Pacific region met today to discuss the vital development of the region's transport, communications and infrastructure.
The Second session of the Committee on Transport, Communications, Tourism and Infrastructure Development is held at the United Nations Conference Centre from 24 to 26 November 1999. The meeting is being organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
H.E. Mr. Pradit Phataraprasit, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of Thailand in his opening statement said that one of the most significant contributions that ESCAP is making to assist countries in the region including Thailand is the extensive work being undertaken under the Asian Land Transport Infrastructure Development (ALTID) project.
"As part of our continued efforts to enhance cross-border trade and investment flows, Thailand signed the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit in December 1998. A tripartite agreement on facilitation of cross-border transport of goods and people between the Governments of Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand and Vietnam is
scheduled to be signed on 26th of this month in Vientiane," the Thai Minister informed the Meeting.
Thailand had achieved tangible progress in the implementation of transport-related projects since the last Committee meeting in November 1998, the Minister said. The various projects include the construction of the second Bangkok International Airport which is scheduled to be completed in 2004 and the construction of the second basin of Laem Chabang Port, expected to be completed in 2001.
He also said that a number of projects and initiatives aimed at expanding road networks are planned including a 20-year motorway network development programme and the expansion of
the railway route length through the construction of 4 new railway lines as well as efforts are being made to expedite the construction of double tracking between inter-urban areas.
In the opening statement to the meeting, Mr. Adrianus Mooy, Executive Secretary of ESCAP said that with the persistence of an economic crisis, infrastructure development in the region has suffered a severe set back. "This is evident from the delays in implementation, and the postponement or cancellation of many infrastructure projects in several countries in the region, as well as the reduced expenditure on the maintenance of existing assets. Other casualties of the crisis include diminishing private sector interest and a heavier debt burden resulting from currency devaluation.
In light of this, the Executive Secretary urged developing countries of the region to become active participants in the New Delhi Action Plan on Infrastructure Development in Asia and the Pacific. "The plan has set down series of policy initiatives and actions which together form a framework that will increase the level of efficiency in the infrastructure sector, enhance capacity of the existing assets and thereby restrain the capital demand for new infrastructure, raise the level of confidence in the development process and attract private sector investment."
In the next three days, the Committee will be discussing major issues in land transport and infrastructure development, particularly the implementation of ALTID comprise the Asian Highway, the Trans-Asian Railway projects and the facilitation of land transport movements.
Over the past decades, the Asian and Pacific region has experienced rapid economic growth. As a result, many cities in the region are heavily congested with traffic which is inhibiting the flow of goods and people and effectively limiting access to locations which have traditionally been at the heart of economic and social activity.
In addition to this traffic congestion, the growth in demand for transport services is placing an increasingly heavy burden upon national resources, the environment and human health, and the safety of all road users is a serious concern. In responding to these problems, the Committee will consider the interactive policy development for sustainable and safe transport, said an ESCAP spokesman.
The Committee will also discuss major issues in the development of infrastructure in the power sector as well as the preparations for the ministerial conference on infrastructure.
Representatives from Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and Hong Kong, China as well as representatives from other United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations are participating in the Meeting.