The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the five United Nations regional commissions have launched a project to help governments and businesses to keep transportation networks and borders operational, as well as to facilitate the flow of goods and services, while minimizing the spread of COVID-19.
El project, launched last May, will implement United Nations solutions, standards, guidelines, metrics, tools and methodologies to help developing countries build resilience in transport, trade and logistics in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project does emphasis on the exchange of knowledge and good practices, and aims to help governments of developing and least developed countries (LDCs) adapt to post-COVID-19 conditions using UN expertise, standards, tools and guidance, while taking into account their local conditions.
The project consists of three groups to match standards and best practices in transport and trade facilitation, considering new concerns related to cross-border freight transport operations and trade transactions as a result of COVID-19.
El first group, focused on Contactless solutions and best practices, aims to reduce physical contact in cross-border supply chains by facilitating the flow of goods without spreading the virus. Such facilitation will be achieved through the implementation of UN conventions and standards for harmonized electronic data exchange in digital transport corridors, border crossings and trade operations, and the development of smart rail and road connectivity.
El second group addresses the Maximizing connectivity and removing obstacles for cross-border trade and transport operations as a result of COVID-19. It seeks to promote synergies between border agencies by empowering national trade facilitation committees, enhancing customs automation, and identifying non-tariff barriers.
El third group boarding collaborative solutions in transport, trade and logistics operations by strengthening regional and sectoral cooperation. This group will focus on international transit issues as well as sectoral cooperation for ports as nodes of the global maritime transport network, based on regional and national contexts.
The groups are based on United Nations conventions, standards, tools and instruments., such as UNCTAD's Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA), the International eTIR System (TIR Convention) And the Framework Agreement for the Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the PacificThe groups will also draw on regional platforms for intergovernmental cooperation and capacity-building programmes of the regional commissions.
The project responds to a call to action by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to address the socio-economic dimensions of COVID-19 and aligns with the UN Framework for the Immediate Socio-Economic Response to COVID-19, which calls for improved connectivity and lower transaction and transport costs and is central to the UN’s efforts to enhance contactless, seamless and cooperative transport and trade. Such efforts are expected to help economies recover better from COVID-19 and accelerate progress towards the SDGs.
Project funding is administered by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
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