"The SPECA Region at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia: Developing Interregional Connectivity in the Development of Sustainable Multimodal Routes" - an event under this name was organized by the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the UN Office in Geneva in cooperation with the Secretariat of the European Economic Commission (UNECE).

The event, chaired by Turkmenistan in the United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), took place on February 10 as part of the 87th session of the UNECE Committee on Inland Transport.

The event was attended by the heads of the ECE, transport departments of the SPECA countries, delegations of the ECE member states and ESCAP, as well as representatives of the European Union, the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the DEKRA expert organization and other interested parties. The Turkmen delegation was headed by the Deputy Director General of the Agency for Transport and Communications.

During the meeting, key issues of the implementation of the SPECA Roadmap for the digitalization of multimodal data and document exchange were discussed. Special attention was paid to the adoption of international UN CEFACT standards aimed at digitalizing transport and trade processes in the region to improve the efficiency and sustainability of transport systems in the context of globalization.

Participants discussed current national and regional developments in the creation of sustainable multimodal routes that will improve connectivity between Europe and Asia. They examined the challenges and prospects for the introduction of new technologies and standards in the SPECA countries and opportunities for cooperation with key international organizations. Mechanisms for joint projects were outlined, taking into account the interests of all parties in order to harmonize transport routes in the region.

This event is important as it marks a new level of the SPECA format in terms of strengthening interregional ties and opening new horizons for cooperation between Europe and Asia.

ORIENT