2014年-世界发展银行全球_Improving_Trade_and_Transport_for_Landlocked_Developing_Countries___A_Ten-Year_Review_106页_1mb

Summary of Improving Trade and Transport for Landlocked Developing Countries

Core Content

This report, prepared by the World Bank and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), presents a ten-year review of trade and transport challenges and progress for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). It is intended to support the development of a new Programme of Action for LLDCs at the Second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (2014-2024).

Main Points

1. Economics of Landlockedness

• LLDCs face significant disadvantages due to their lack of direct access to the sea, which hinders their economic development and integration into global markets.
• LLDCs have lower per capita incomes compared to their coastal transit neighbors, with 17 of them classified as least developed countries.
• Export composition and markets remain limited, leading to economic vulnerability.
• Resource-rich LLDCs have seen higher GDP growth due to commodity price increases, but this growth is still lower than that of resource-scarce coastal countries.
• Trade and transport costs are higher for LLDCs, which negatively affects their competitiveness and economic diversification.

2. Connectivity Constraints

• LLDCs still face high trade costs, primarily due to inefficient logistics and poor infrastructure.
• The logistics performance of LLDCs is generally lower than that of other countries, contributing to the challenges in trade facilitation.
• The report highlights the need for better coordination with transit countries to improve infrastructure and reduce costs.

3. Hinterland Connections

• The efficiency of transport and logistics services is crucial for LLDCs to access global markets.
• The development of freight terminals and the improvement of road and rail networks are key areas of focus.
• Challenges in the trucking industry include both quantitative and qualitative access barriers.
• Air transport and other logistics services, such as forwarders and customs brokers, also play an important role in reducing trade costs.

4. Transit and Trade Facilitation

• Regional integration and trade facilitation are essential for LLDCs to overcome their geographic disadvantages.
• The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (Bali Agreement) and other international treaties are important tools in this regard.
• Land border crossing points and the use of ICT to streamline customs procedures are critical for reducing delays and uncertainties in trade routes.
• The report emphasizes the importance of harmonizing transport systems and improving institutional support.

5. Physical Connectivity and Corridors

• The development of physical infrastructure, such as roads, railways, and ports, is a priority for improving access to global markets.
• Reviving railway systems and ensuring gauge interoperability are important steps in this process.
• The report discusses the role of public-private partnerships and the need for better infrastructure maintenance.
• It also highlights the importance of connecting missing links in transport corridors to enhance regional and global connectivity.

Key Information

• Number of LLDCs: 32 countries, with a population of nearly 440 million.
• Income Categories: LLDCs fall into low, lower-middle, and upper-middle income groups.
• Trade Performance: On average, LLDCs account for only 1% of global merchandise exports, and their trade volume is about 60% of that of comparable coastal countries.
• Growth Trends: From 2000 to 2012, LLDCs experienced an average annual growth rate of 4.31%, but this slowed after the global financial crisis.
• Resource-Rich vs. Resource-Scarce LLDCs: Resource-rich LLDCs have seen higher growth rates and GDP per capita, but still lag behind coastal resource-scarce countries.
• Regional Concentrations: LLDCs are concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia, with 16 and 9 countries respectively.
• Strategies for Improvement: The report suggests a focus on infrastructure development, trade facilitation, regional integration, and institutional reforms to enhance LLDCs' access to global markets.

Conclusion

Despite progress in trade facilitation and infrastructure, LLDCs remain marginalized in the global economy due to high trade costs and limited connectivity. The report underscores the importance of continued efforts, including harmonization of transport systems, investment in infrastructure, and improved regional cooperation, to enhance the competitiveness and economic integration of LLDCs. The new Programme of Action for LLDCs is expected to build on these findings and address the remaining challenges.