Africa Regional Review Meeting on the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–2024

Abstract

Landlocked developing countries face special trade and development challenges, emanating from their lack of territorial access to the sea and geographical remoteness from international markets. Because of the lack of direct access to the sea, those countries are faced with disproportionately high transport and trade costs, which hinder their competitiveness and overall economic growth. Landlocked developing countries’ seaborne trade depends on transit through other countries, and accordingly, they are confronted with additional border crossings, weak transit-transport infrastructure and inefficient customs operations. The objectives of the midterm review are to review progress made by the landlocked developing countries, transit countries and development partners in the implementation of the Vienna program of action and serve as a forum to share best practices and lessons learned, identify obstacles and constraints encountered and actions and initiatives needed to overcome them, as well as new challenges and emerging issues, in order to further accelerate the implementation of the Vienna program of action. As part of the preparatory process for the comprehensive high-level midterm review, regional review meetings will be held for Euro-Asia, Africa and Latin America regions. The present report provides an overview of the progress achieved in the implementation of the Vienna program of action in Africa and the basis for discussion in the regional review meeting.