As part of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), the Avaza National Tourist Zone hosted the event “Connectivity: Digital Opportunities Beyond Borders” dedicated to the role of digital transformation in addressing such issues as high transportation costs, the need for transit routes, and limited opportunities for economic diversification in these countries.

The participation of representatives of LLDC government agencies, international organizations, including the UN, major financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society in the forum demonstrated their readiness to overcome the challenges these countries face.

The digital environment is currently becoming increasingly established as a driving force for innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth. The transition to a digital economy helps reduce costs in production and services, and accelerates adaptation to changes taking place in the world. The digital economy, based on the availability of information and technology, expands opportunities and opens up new areas of interaction.

Digital transformation plays a key role in the modernization of the social, commercial and public administration spheres. E-commerce, online platforms for goods and services, and digital financial instruments facilitate the integration of LLDCs into global markets and simplify relations with international partners.

Digital technologies are widely used in the field of education and training. For countries with limited opportunities for physical integration into global academic and scientific centers, (online) distance learning platforms afford access to advanced knowledge and innovative practices, which not only strengthens human capital but also creates a basis for the development of local innovation systems.

As for the role of digital technologies in public administration, the introduction of an e-government system and digital services simplifies administrative processes, improves the interconnectedness of the state, business and citizens, as well as the quality of services provided in such important areas as education and healthcare.

In addition, information and communication technologies are a key factor in improving the efficiency of the transport and logistics sector. Advanced management systems based on these technologies help simplify trade operations and significantly reduce expenditure.

Despite the global progress in digitalization, most landlocked developing countries face low levels of telecommunications infrastructure, weak Internet penetration, and high costs of digital services. In this regard, the forum emphasized the need to strengthen international cooperation to actively attract investment, implement modern technologies, and ensure equal access to digital opportunities.

The Avaza Action Program, which includes a number of goals and commitments in the field of digital communications, covers such priority areas as institutional reforms, science, technology, and innovation. They provide for: ensuring equal digital development between countries in the field of artificial intelligence and other digital technologies; creating regional digital platforms for training and sharing experiences; raising awareness in areas such as advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and automation; improving connectivity to digital infrastructure; expanding access to technological innovations; developing and strengthening national digital strategies; supporting effective digital connectivity, creating a regulatory framework and enabling environment.

In this regard, presentations of projects and initiatives aimed at facilitating the achievement of the goals were held. These include the Partner2Connect Initiative, an International Telecommunication Union investment initiative in digital infrastructure, and an initiative by the European Union to support digital transformation in a number of Central Asian countries using satellite communications.

The implementation of these initiatives will create a solid foundation for international cooperation, furnish specific mechanisms for attracting investment and developing infrastructure. This will allow landlocked developing countries to solve digital transformation problems in a consolidated and effective manner.

It was especially noted that successful digital integration in LLDCs is possible only if a multilateral partnership is established. In particular, it was emphasized that joint efforts will make it possible to unlock the potential of landlocked developing countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and take full advantage of the benefits of inclusive global digital transformation.

During the forum, Turkmenistan’s achievements in the development and implementation of the digital system were presented, and the work carried out in this direction was highly appreciated. It was noted that large-scale work is currently underway in the country on comprehensive modernization and diversification of national economic sectors, active implementation of the digital system, advanced technologies and know-how.

Consistently developing the relevant infrastructure, Turkmenistan is integrating into the global digital space. The country is implementing strategic programs aimed at modernizing the national telecommunications system, expanding access to the Internet and introducing advanced digital solutions in various areas of public life. Particular attention is paid to ensuring the availability of modern information and communication services for the population, which directly facilitate socio-economic and sustainable development. These activities promote more active integration of the country into the international trading system, economic and scientific-technical projects.

Expanding international cooperation in the digital sphere is also considered to be one of the priority areas. Turkmenistan is consistently developing partnerships with leading IT companies, which facilitates the development of best practices, attracting investment and the introduction of innovative technologies, and creates favorable conditions for the implementation of the Avaza Action Program.

Among the key topics of the event, dedicated to the issues of interconnectedness in landlocked developing countries, is the transport system. This area is an important component of the economy of any state, and the level of its development largely determines the overall growth rate of countries.

Currently, the development of the transport sector is one of the strategic areas of geopolitics, acting as a powerful unifying factor that provides states and regions with significant economic and political benefits and contributes to the consolidation of efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. For LLDCs, the development of this area is of particular importance due to the existing obstacles.

In this regard, projects and initiatives for the development of transport infrastructure, as well as successful examples of already implemented solutions, were presented at the event. It was noted that public-private partnership is one of the effective ways to attract investment, allowing for the modernization and expansion of transport corridors, and the development of multimodal systems. Support from international organizations and the implementation of major international initiatives create a solid foundation for the formation of sustainable transport systems and the expansion of transit capabilities for LLDCs. This is of great importance for the implementation of the Avaza Action Program in the field of transport, including the creation of a modern, extensive and safe international transport infrastructure.

The Program emphasizes the importance of ensuring free transit and access to the sea using all modes of transport on favorable and economically feasible terms and in accordance with international law. The need to reduce transport costs and develop the corresponding transit infrastructure is also confirmed. Expanding the participation of LLDCs in an equitable multilateral trading system is of fundamental importance for their economic growth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The document notes the importance of transport corridors for strengthening links with world markets, ensuring efficient transit and reducing transport costs.

The forum paid special attention to environmental requirements in the development of transport systems. The importance of an integrated approach that takes into account the preservation of environmental well-being and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions when implementing appropriate measures was emphasized. The introduction of innovative energy-saving technologies, the use of renewable energy sources, and the improvement of the regulatory framework to ensure the sustainable development of the transport sector were identified as priority areas. Emphasis was also placed on creating an infrastructure capable of ensuring the smooth operation of the transport system in the face of climate change.

In addition, special attention was paid to the development of digital technologies for managing traffic flows and the need to increase the volume of passenger and freight traffic. As noted, the introduction of modern technologies and digital solutions in the field of transit cargo transportation not only increases the efficiency of transport systems, but also facilitates the development of international cooperation. In this regard, the creation of electronic platforms for the exchange of information, the automation of customs procedures and the integration of multimodal transport systems were identified as priority areas.

During the discussions, the ways of solving the above-mentioned problems were considered, as well as the role of regional initiatives in creating sustainable and competitive transport systems that support the development of production clusters and logistics centers. In this context, special attention was paid to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, which plays an important role in ensuring efficient and reliable transit cargo transportation between Europe and Asia. The possibilities of further development of this area using innovative logistics and information systems that reduce the time and cost of cargo transportation were considered. This route is one of the key transport corridors that ensure economic growth in the context of the transition to innovative transport systems.

Turkmenistan is actively involved in the implementation of this international transport corridor. A striking example of this is the high-level meeting held last year in Ashgabat dedicated to the launch of the Coordination Platform of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, which was attended by representatives of the European Union, international financial institutions, and relevant ministries of the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus. This once again confirmed that Turkmenistan pays special attention to the issues of expanding international cooperation in the field of transport and communications.

Our country attaches great importance to the development of transport infrastructure as the main factor of sustainable development and regional integration. Turkmenistan consistently implements specific measures to form an extensive network of international transit and transport corridors.

The transport system serves as a powerful impetus for the socio-economic development of the country, and facilitates the strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation with neighboring states. In this context, Turkmenistan attaches particular importance to the revival of the Great Silk Road in a new format and implements important joint projects with regional states and international organizations in the field of transport and communications.

It should be noted that the country’s strategy for the revival of the Great Silk Road is in line with the “One Belt, One Road” initiative. Both initiatives are aimed at integrating transport systems, improving connectivity, developing multimodal corridors, which opens up new opportunities for economic growth, modernizing the relevant infrastructure and deepening cultural ties between peoples.

Together with foreign partners, Turkmenistan is implementing large-scale projects to create a regional and interregional logistics system, as well as to form interstate transit corridors connecting Central Asia, Europe, the Caspian, Black Sea and Baltic regions, the Near and Middle East, South and Southeast Asia. By consistently working in this direction, our country makes a significant contribution to the common efforts to develop mutually acceptable solutions to pressing issues on the regional and global agenda, as well as to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan is expanding transit and transport corridors in the North-South and East-West directions, actively putting forward specific initiatives at international forums and high-level meetings aimed at activating transport flows and creating new transport and logistics corridors. It should also be noted that, at the initiative of Turkmenistan and under the auspices of the United Nations, the International Conference of Ministers of Transport of Landlocked Developing Countries was held in the Avaza National Tourist Zone in August 2022.

In addition, at the initiative of Turkmenistan, the UN General Assembly adopted a number of Resolutions concerning international cooperation in the field of transport. In particular, at the 70th plenary meeting of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, at the proposal of our country and with the unanimous support of the UN Member States, the annual celebration of November 26 as World Sustainable Transport Day was proclaimed. This is a clear indication that the global initiatives put forward by our country enjoy broad support. It should also be emphasized that, at the initiative of Turkmenistan, the relevant UN General Assembly Resolutions aimed at qualitatively promoting cooperation in the transport sector were unanimously adopted in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2021.

Thus, the forum in Avaza became an important event in the development of an effective international dialogue aimed at the practical solution of issues included in the agenda of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. Thanks to joint efforts, a significant step was made in creating a solid foundation for the widespread introduction of digital technologies, strengthening transport connectivity, simplifying transit procedures and stimulating economic growth in LLDCs.