EU: new agenda for transport and logistics cooperation in Central Asia
On 2 November, the European Union Liaison Office in Turkmenistan held a round table in Ashgabat on the theme "International cargo transportation: new competitive conditions".
In the course of discussions, the Turkmen business community was informed about the new EU project "Strengthening transport and logistics Business Intermediary Organizations (BIOs) in Central Asia".
The experts of the main project implementer, the Bulgarian Centre for Entrepreneurship and Executive development (CEED), discussed innovative methods and ways to improve the management of supply channels with Turkmen partners. In turn, the representatives of the Turkmen Association of International Road Carriers (THADA) told how Turkmenistan is currently dealing with the movement of goods in the supply chain and the promising areas of development.
The project, financed by the EU and targeted for Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, involves four key areas: the education sector, trade, environment and transport.
It will be implemented in partnership with Association of stevedore Companies of Latvia (LSA),
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, Uzbek Business Logistics Development Association. The partner from the Turkmen side is THADA, representing the interests of national road carriers at the international level.
What are the goals of the project?
Firstly, it provides support to local logistics companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the arrangement of logistic channels: supply, storage and distribution of goods.
Secondly, a number of measures are being taken to create jobs, train personnel working in the field of transport and warehousing.
And, thirdly, all project activities are designed, ultimately, to increase the competitiveness of SMEs in the domestic and foreign markets and expand the economic integration of the Central Asian countries with the EU.
The project envisages specific tasks and steps to achieve the stated goals:
- provision of technical assistance in the field of trade and investment to transport and logistics organizations;
- transfer of EU know-how and positive experience to transport companies in Central Asia;
- improving the management capacities of SMEs working in the transport and logistics sector;
- development of the paid services system.
- conducting trainings and seminars on various aspects of the promotion and development of SMEs in the transport sector, including the introduction of ISO standards, access to finance, the use of modern IT-solutions with an emphasis on the environmental aspect.
