BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6aa9168af3b33 DTSTART:20260915T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20260915T160000Z LOCATION:Cotonou\, Benin SUMMARY:Technical workshop on updating the draft quadrilateral road transpo rt agreement under the GGSP-COTONI project CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will hold a technical worksho p in Cotonou\, Benin\, on 15 September 2026 to advance work on a proposed quadrilateral road transport agreement\, aimed at strengthening regulatory convergence and facilitating road transport along key regional corridors. The workshop is organized under the Global Gateway Support Programme – C otonou–Niamey (GGSP-COTONI)\, funded by the European Union and implement ed by ENABEL\, TradeMark Africa and UNCTAD.The event builds on work undert aken by UNCTAD with the countries concerned since 2022 and on the Quadrila teral Declaration adopted in Niamey on 25 May 2023\, which established a r oadmap for closer cooperation on transit and road transport.Why it matters Efficient regional corridors depend not only on transport infrastructure\, but also on coherent and predictable rules governing road transport opera tions.Differences in national regulatory frameworks\, market-access condit ions and transport practices can create additional costs and operational c onstraints for transport operators and traders\, particularly when goods m ove across several countries.The proposed quadrilateral approach seeks to provide a common framework for the organization and operation of road tran sport while taking into account existing bilateral arrangements and ongoin g regional and continental integration processes.It also responds to an ev olving subregional environment and to opportunities arising from the progr essive liberalization of trade in services\, including transport services\ , under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).Focus of the work shopThe workshop will bring together public and private stakeholders to re view and further develop the proposed quadrilateral road transport agreeme nt.Discussions will focus on:the historical and regulatory context underpi nning the quadrilateral approach\, including the Niamey Declaration and ex isting bilateral and regional frameworks\;the key principles and objective s of a balanced quadrilateral framework for road transport and related int ermediation services\;the proposed structure and main provisions of the dr aft agreement\;the identification of areas where greater regulatory conver gence\, coordination or mutual recognition could facilitate regional road transport\; andthe next steps towards further refinement and consideration of the proposed agreement by the countries concerned.A central part of th e workshop will be a participatory review of the draft agreement\, allowin g national administrations\, transport-sector representatives and other st akeholders to provide comments and proposals based on their operational ex perience.Towards nationally owned regional solutionsThe workshop is part o f UNCTAD'\;s broader support for the implementation of the Niamey road map and for improved transit\, transport and digitalization along the Coto nou–Niamey corridor.The process places particular emphasis on national o wnership. The objective is to develop a practical framework that reflects the realities and priorities of the participating countries while providin g a basis for greater regulatory convergence at the subregional level.The workshop will bring together representatives of relevant Beninese ministri es and public administrations\, transport and trade institutions\, private -sector and professional organizations\, as well as experts from UNCTAD an d representatives of the GGSP-COTONI implementing partners.<\;p class=&q uot\;text-align-justify\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/ meeting/technical-workshop-updating-draft-quadrilateral-road-transport-agr eement-under-ggsp-cotoni DTSTAMP:20260915T095730Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR