ESCWA Transport Committee adopted a proposal for the formation of a working group on the harmonization of institutional frameworks and legislation in the transport sector in the region. Transport officials of the Commission's member countries adopted the proposal at the 11th Session of the Committee, which was held on 22-24 March under the auspices of Lebanese Minister of Transportation, Ghazi Aridi.
Participants in the Committee formulated recommendations requesting that ESCWA and the League of Arab States (LAS) cooperate on the implementation of the railway network among Arab countries. Countries that did not sign or ratify this agreement were asked to do so. Participants also requested that ESCWA draft a regional agreement to facilitate trade and transport, to be presented to the 12th Session of the Transport Committee.
Head of the ESCWA Economic Development and Globalization Division (EDGD) Nabil Safwat had delivered the opening statement of the Commission, which said, "Thanks to the fruitful and laborious collaboration of ESCWA, member countries and concerned organizations, this sector witnessed progress in its infrastructure, systems, procedures, etc."
The Committee brought together high-level representatives of member countries, namely from ministries and relevant government institutions, alongside experts in related fields.
Transport officials had affirmed at the opening of the meeting the importance of unifying transport legislation among Arab countries and removing obstacles to the movement of goods and people in the region.
Safwat focused in the opening on the achievements in the areas of transport and trade and their importance to the work of the Commission. He noted, however, that more work needs to be done to achieve progress on road, railway and maritime transport.
Opening statements were also delivered by the representative of Minister Aridi, Director-General of the land and maritime transport at the ministry, Abdul hafiz Qaissi, and Palestine representative Mahmoud Khaled, in his capacity as the former chairperson of the session.
Qaissi said in his statement "achievements of the ESCWA Transport Committee have drawn out a roadmap towards the fulfillment of socio-economic integration among member countries." He added, however, that obstacles to movement of persons and goods among Arab countries must be removed.
Khaled enumerated for his part the achievements of the 10th Session of the Transport Committee, which focused on "harmonizing transport legislation, and the Sudan's request to join ESCWA’s three transport agreements." Khaled emphasized Palestine's ratification of the agreements.
The meeting elected the Committee's new office. Qatar representative was elected as Chairperson, Palestine and Kuwait representatives were elected as vice-chair and Lebanon representative was elected rapporteur.
