Side-event at LLDC3: Sustainable Transport for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs): Leveraging South-South Cooperation

• When: 7 August 2025; 1:15 pm-2:45 pm 
• Venue: Building 3 Room 07.03, blue zone, Awaza conference centre 
• Co-organizers: Government of Turkmenistan and United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)
• Downlooad detailed Concept Note

Join us for an important dialogue on transforming transport infrastructure and connectivity for landlocked developing countries

Event Overview

Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) face unique challenges that significantly impact their economic growth and global market integration. With trade costs averaging 1.4 times higher than coastal developing countries, these nations require innovative solutions to overcome geographical barriers and unlock their economic potential. This high-level side-event brings together key stakeholders to explore how South-South cooperation and regional partnerships can drive sustainable transport solutions, reduce logistics costs, and enhance connectivity for LLDCs worldwide.

 Objectives of the Side-Event 

The side-event, co-organized by the Government of Turkmenistan, Government of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), aims to underscore the urgency of addressing persistent transport inefficiencies and high logistics costs that continue to constrain the effective participation of LLDCs in global and regional trade. Particular attention will be given to the experiences of Turkmenistan and its neighbouring LLDCs, which face similar structural barriers. 

By convening key stakeholders, the event will explore how SSC and regional cooperation frameworks have been utilized to address these challenges. Participants will engage in dialogue and knowledge exchange to assess how regional initiatives are advancing infrastructure development, harmonizing policies, and facilitating the transfer of technology and innovation. The discussion will also draw on relevant practices from other LLDCs in Asia and Latin America to foster mutual learning and identify scalable SSC solutions. 

 The side-event aims to: 

1. Identify key transport-related challenges faced by Turkmenistan and neighbouring LLDCs, and assess how regional and subregional cooperation mechanisms have been leveraged to address them through coordinated investment, policy alignment, and capacity-building. 

1. Demonstrate the potential of SSC to enable LLDCs to jointly develop resilient, low-emission transport infrastructure, harmonize regulatory frameworks, and enhance trade and transit facilitation. 

1. Present and exchange good practices from other LLDCs beyond central Asia where SSC has been effectively applied—highlighting examples of peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and co-investment—to promote replication and scaling across regions. 

1. Identify concrete pathways for LLDCs, transit countries, and development partners to strengthen partnerships under SSC, aimed at advancing sustainable, inclusive, and integrated transport systems. 

Target Audience 

Participants will include high-level representatives from Member States, United Nations entities, as well as representatives from international and regional organizations, academia, the private sector, and civil society.  

Agenda