68.Intheareaoftechnical assistance, UNCTADhascontinued toexecute the UNDP/United StatesAgencyforInternational Development fundedproject inlouthern Africaentitled "Transit traffic andsupport tothetranlport .ector". Thenew phasaoftheproject becamefullyoperational inJune1988anditlcurrent orientation iatoassist-infullcolleboratlon witnSATCC-theland-locked countries andtheirtransit neighbours inthelubreCjJion toimpl~ment recommendations already madebytheproject, particularly inthefollowing areasl dryportdevelopment, tr~defacilitation, bilateral roadtranait aqreementl, development ofalternative transit routes, development ofadvance carqoinformation systems alongmajortransit corridors, development oflndiqenous, private small-scale roadtransit-traffic haulers andhumanrelource. development work. Similar technical assistance programmes havebeendeveloped byUNCTADin consultation withUNDPfortheEast-Central andWest-Central African .ubreCjJions. Itisexpected thatthesetwoprojects willalsobecomeoperational beforetheend of1989. UNCTADisalsoimplementing another UNDP-funded project entitled "Shipping policyforland-locked countries", theobjective ofwhich11toimprove thecapability ofAfrican land-locked countries tocontrol thelucrative transportation oftheirforeign trade. Tothisend,itprovide. aasiatance inthe formulation andimplementation ofacoherent transport policyaswellasthe creation andupqrading ofnecessary institutions, suchasshippers' councils and national lines. 69.ECAprepared areportin1987outlining apriority programme forthe lend··locked countries intheAfrican region(E/ECA/CN.13/49). Theprogramme covers theareaoftransport andcommunications, whichwaslargely ba.edonworkcarried outbyanUNCTAD teamofexperts, andestablishes aframework forsoliciting international financial andtechnical assistancs tohelpthesecountries overcome theirparticular problems. Furthermore, threeco-financing meetings withemphasis onland-locked countries wereorganized byECAtoprovide forumsatwhichAfrican officials, donorcountries andfinancial institutions couldconsider aselected numberofprojects fromalltransport andcommunications modesthatprovide connections between land-locked countries Bndtheircoastal neighbours. Countries whoseprojects wereconsidered atco-financing meetings wereexpected toexpress theirfirmcommitment andtogivepriority totheirprojects. Theircommitment was toreflect Bnactiveparticipation inthefollow-up oftheirinterests inprojects towhichdonorsandfinancial institutions responded favourably duringthemeetings. 70.ECE,whichisresponsible, .lnt,rOlio,fortheadminiatratio~\ oftheCUltoms Convention ontheInternational Transport ofGoodsunderCoverofTIRCarnets (1975)andtheInternational Convention ontheHarmonization ofFrontier Controll ofGoods(198Z), attaches particular importance tothefacilitiation of international traneport ofgoodeandpassengere. Itecontlnuoue efforte inthis respect areaimedatthereduction andevenabolition ofunneceseary procedure. at /...A/44/588 En9Ulh Page28 bordercrollin91 (butnotonlythere)or,ifthatisnotfeasible, the harmonization ofregulations leading toanincrealed efficiency inthe international movement ofgoods,particularly inrespect oftransittruffic. ECOnomic andSgcialCommillion forAsiaandthePacific 71.Sinc.1975,worklhopl onIpecial mealurel infavouroflealtdeveloped land-lock.d countries hovebeenh.ldr.gularly byESCAPincollaboration with UNCTADund.raUNDP-financed project. Theobjectives oftheworklhopl, among others, w.retoalsistthelealtdeveloped land-locked countries inenhancing their technical capabilitiel insolving problems oftransit-transport tradeandto promote andfOlterco-operation between theland-locked andtransit countries necessary intheareaoftransit tradeandtransport. Thelastofthisserielof workshop. walheldinMarch1987incollaboration withtheUNCTADsecretariat. A UNDP/UNCTAD/ESCAP mission toland-locked andtranlit countries wasundertaken in July/August 1986toreviewandassessrecentdevelopments inthetransit-transport situation andmakepropolall forfutureaction. Furthermore, thesecretariat has organized leven1.llions oftheSpecial BodyonLand-locked Countries. Belides the
**Analysis**
The text discusses various projects and initiatives aimed at improving the economic and transportation infrastructure of land-locked countries in Africa and Asia. It highlights the importance of transit traffic, shipping policies, and international cooperation in facilitating trade and economic development. The text also mentions the role of international organizations such as UNCTAD, UNDP, and ESCAP in providing technical assistance and financing for these projects.

**Category**
Transport and communication, International trade