At a round table in the ‘Avaza’ National Tourist Zone, organised as part of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC 3), the keynote speech was delivered by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebeca Grynspan. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan.

She stressed that such countries face transport costs that are on average 50% higher than in the rest of the world, and that import delivery takes about 42 days, compared to 20 days in coastal states. This hinders their participation in global supply chains and slows economic growth.

Grynspan also noted the successes in the development of regional cooperation, in particular the 150% increase in transit through the ‘Middle Corridor’ in Central Asia over the year and the promotion of a free trade area in Africa.

She paid particular attention to the new Awaza Programme of Action for 2024–2034, calling it an important strategic document whose implementation requires political will and international support.

Her speech was central to the discussion on ways to strengthen the trade potential of landlocked countries, with an emphasis on infrastructure development, digitalisation and regional integration.