resolution 39/227, paragraph 2;Economic andSocial Council resolution 1984/78, paragraph 4:andCommission resolutions 92(VIII), paragraph 3;138(XII), paragraph 3;143(XIII), paragraph 4;170(XV),paragraph 3. 34.126 Lackofco-ordination andplanning inmatters relating totransport and communications amongthecountries oftheESCWAregion andbetween neighbouring countries inparticular, giverisetomisallocation offinancial resources and impede thesmooth flowofpassengers andgoodsandtheeaseofmovement andtravel ofindividuals across thecountries oftheregion, allofwhichconstitute problem areasthatneedtobeaddressed. 34.127 Withregard totheland-based network ofthetransport infrastructure and, morespecifically, toroadandrailway networks, theproblems ofcompleting the missing linksthatwillconnect neighbouring Arabcountries intheregion and improving andmaintaining existing linksareof.vitalimportance. 34.128 TradeintheESCWAregionispredominantly seaborne and,asadirect consequence, thecompetitiveness ofexports fromArabcountries inforeign markets depend largely onthecostofthecarriage ofsuchgoodsbysea.Therefore, increased attention should bepaidtomaritime transport and,inparticular, tothe development ofnational merchant fleets inordertoincrease theshareofnational carriers intheexternal tradeofArabcountries, particularly insolidorliquid bulkcommodities. 34.129 Humanresources inthetransport sectorsuffer fromthescarcity oftrained national personnel specialized inmatters relating tothissector, whichrangefrom planning tooperations andmanagement, particularly atthemiddle andhigher levels ofmanagement. Manpower development andtraining problems areissuesthatneedto beaddressed. 34.130 Withregard tothecommunications sector, theESCWAregion hasnot completed theintroduction ofcommunications technologies todevelop interregional linksthatwillensure theregion's integration attheglobal level. Consequently, partofthetelecommunications traffic between ESCWAmember countries isstill routed viatransit centres outside theregion, thereby failing totakeadvantage of theavailable facilities intheESCWAregion. 34.131 Theobjective ofthissubprogramme istoestablish connected transport and communications networks thatwillensure areliable andcontinuous flowoftraffic among ESCWAmember countries andwithotherregions, through integrated ESCWA regional transport policies andoperations. Morespecifically, theobjectives are thefollowing: (a)Toassist member countries inplanning thedevelopment oftransport and communications facilities andinformulating integrated transport policies, including regional transport networks andmultimodal operations, aswellasthe training oftransport personnel; (b)Toimprove regional land,maritime andairtransport infrastructure, whereneeded, together withoperations, withparticular emphasis onmaintenance: -32- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library(c)Tofacilitate interregional andintraregional traffic andcommunications byharmonizing transport rulesandregulations; (d)Toimprove theinterregional telephone infrastructure andoperations; (e)Toimplement theprogrammes ofaction oftheTransport andCommunications Decade forWestern Asia. (b)Courseofaction ofthesecretariat 34.132 Theactivities ofthesecretariat intheareaoftransport willconcentrate onthefollowing: (a)Workwillbeinitiated ontheestablishment ofamechanism of co-ordination fortransport andcommunications development plansandpolicies at theESCWAregional levelandonadraft ESCWA(Arab)transport convention, aswell astheestablishment ofanESCWAregional transport training institute. Emphasis willbeplaced onmanpower training, comparative analysis oftransport development plansinESCWAmember countries, aswellasonthemaintenance oftheexisting transport infrastructure. Theseactions willbecarried outthrough surveys and
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the importance of developing transportation and communication networks in the ESCWA region, highlighting the challenges and obstacles faced by the member countries in this regard. The document emphasizes the need for integrated transport policies, improved infrastructure, and manpower development to facilitate the flow of goods and people across the region.

**Category**
Transport and communication, International trade