Transport infrastructure and services, including shipping, ports, roads and railways are essential for global merchandise trade and related supply chains.

In accordance with its mandate, UNCTAD is carrying out work to help developing countries improve their transport systems and ensure better access to worldwide markets. In its intervention, UNCTAD is increasingly adopting a wider and multifaceted perspective that crosses modes and dimensions to better reflect the new realities and trends that are currently reshaping the transport sector landscape including growth in multimodal transport, extended supply chains and the growing importance of environmental sustainability objectives.

When undertaking research and analytical work, consensus building activities as well as technical assistance and capacity building initiatives, particular focus is put on building the regulatory and institutional capacities, developing and strengthening policies and promoting technical skills and expertise.

Main activities and areas of intervention include:

• Review of Maritime Transport

• Transport Newsletter

• Liner Shipping Connectivity

• Financing sustainable freight transport

• Maritime policy

• Technical assistance programmes and partnerships