On July 12, 2023, within the framework of the High-Level Political Forum of the UN Economic and Social Council, the Republic of Tajikistan, together with its partners, as well as the Intergovernmental Council of Road Administrators and International Centre for Transport Diplomacy organized a side event, at which the initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan on Establishment of regional Centre for transport diplomacy in Dushanbe was discussed.

Mr. Jonibek Hikmat, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United Nations, participated as moderator of the session and, opening the event, gave the floor to Mr. Azim Ibrohim, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Tajikistan, for his opening speech.

Azim Ibrohim in his speech expressed his gratitude to the organizers and participants of the event and informed about the initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan to establish the Regional Centre for Transport Diplomacy in Dushanbe, which was approved by the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon.

Azim Ibrohim, pointing out the need and purpose of the establishment of this center, noted that the establishment of the first Regional Transport Diplomacy Center in Dushanbe should be considered as one of the important developments in the field of transport, that the center will make a significant contribution to the achievement of the relevant goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

     The event was also attended by Ms. Fatima Rabab, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and High Representative of the Group of Landlocked Developed Countries, Least Developed Countries and Small Island Countries. In her opening remarks, Ms. Fatima Rabab emphasized the importance and timeliness of the theme of this meeting and supported the initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan.

It should be noted that the initiative of Tajikistan was welcomed by other speakers of the event, including the Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA, Executive Secretary of the International Center for Transport Diplomacy, representatives of educational institutions and trade associations of Central Asian countries.

     At the same time, another important initiative was presented during the mentioned session - organization of the first Global Student Competition on Supply Chain Sustainability.

     It should be noted that the need to establish the Regional Transport Diplomacy Centre in Dushanbe city was previously stated by the Minister of Transport of Tajikistan Azim Ibrohim at the 10th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Transport Ministers' Meeting (28 April 2023, New Delhi, Republic of India).

Source: The Permanent Mission of Tajikistan to the United Nations