Turkmenistan will host the 38th meeting of Organization of Cooperation of Railways (OSJD) in Ashgabat on 15-19 April 2024. The meeting participants will include the heads and senior representatives of the railway transport organizations of the member countries of the Oerganization for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD).
The general director of the agency for transport and communications under the cabinet of ministers, Chakiyev, reported during the cabinet meeting on 12 April 2024 that the agenda of the event includes consideration of the results of the activities of specialized Commissions and permanent working groups of the Organization for 2023, discussion of the Work Program for the coming years, studying the feasibility of developing a draft Development Strategy of the Organization, professional training and education of employees of the railway system, etc.
Here is a slightly abridged version of the address of the president of Turkmenistan to the participants of the conference:
Turkmenistan takes an active position in the development of transport and transit corridors, including in matters of cooperation at the UN and other major international organizations. Our independent country has put forward a number of constructive initiatives and numerous relevant resolutions in this direction.
Over the years, the UN General Assembly adopted the Resolutions submitted by Turkmenistan – “The role of transport and transit corridors in ensuring international cooperation for sustainable development”, “Towards ensuring comprehensive interaction between all modes of transport in order to promote the creation of sustainable multimodal transit corridors”, “Strengthening links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, “Strengthening links between all modes of transport to ensure stable and reliable international transport for sustainable development during and after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic”.
Resolutions such as “World Sustainable Transport Day” and “Strengthening links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals” were also adopted, and November 26 of each year was declared “World Sustainable Transport Day”.
It should be especially noted that during the work of this important meeting, from April 16 of this year, the Sustainable Development Week of the UN General Assembly will be held in New York City of the United States of America and, within its framework, a ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Sustainable Transport, created on the initiative of Turkmenistan, and also a high-level meeting on sustainable transport.
Turkmenistan, located at the crossroads of Central Asia and Europe, is consistently expanding its international transit capabilities by modernizing the material and technical base of the national transport infrastructure.
During the years of independence, the international railways Tejen–Sarakhs–Mashhad, Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran, Kerki–Ymamnazar–Akina and Serhetabat–Turgundi, the Zerger–Kerki–Kerkichi and Ashgabat–Garagum–Dashoguz steel highways, as well as the Kerki–Dashoguz railway bridges were built. Kerkichi and Turkmenabat-Farab.
Consistently integrating into the transport system, Turkmenistan places among its priority issues the further expansion of the infrastructure of the main transport and transit corridors connecting important roads and modal centers along the North-South and East-West routes.
In confirmation of the above, the Ashgabat Declaration “Agreement on Transit and Transport Cooperation” (Agreement on the Lapis Lazuli direction), as well as the TRACECA transport corridor, was adopted following the results of the High-Level International Conference held in the Turkmen capital under the auspices of the UN in 2016.
Along with this, the necessary measures are being taken to develop the transport and transit corridor China–Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran and expand cargo transportation.
In addition, systematic work is being carried out between the railway departments of the member states of the Organization to intensify the international multimodal transport and transit route Countries of the Asia-Pacific region – China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Azerbaijan – Georgia – Turkey – Europe.
Today, Turkmenistan, guided by the importance of establishing cooperation between the state and the private sector for the development and promotion of a multimodal transport and communication system, including railways, motor transport, waterways, ports, as well as attracting investments in this area, pays special attention to the creation of competitive national logistics companies.
As a member of the Organization for Cooperation between Railways since 1994, Turkmenistan has been pursuing a coordinated transport policy aimed at the harmonious development of railway infrastructure at the national level, as well as transit international cargo transportation on a regional scale.
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The OSJD was created by the Eastern bloc countries in 1956. OSJD is the acronym for the Russian words Организация Сотрудничества Железных Дорог which translates to Organization for Cooperation of Railways.
The organization was created to meet the unique needs of the Eastern bloc countries because, in contrast to Western Europe, the routes are long – typically 8000 to 10000, track gauge changes along a single route, and severe climatic zones.
OSJD has helped improve the technical, legal, and tariff compatibility between its members and the transport systems in Europe.
OSJD has created various technical standards, which allow each company’s equipment to be attached to others, as well as specification for initially freight vehicles and then passenger carriages which each member could order to ensure cost efficiency/inter operation
It was involved in the creation of a common specification for variable-gauge wheelsets, designed for use on the 1,435 mm and 1,520 mm gauges. OSJD is also works on technical problems of different push-pull devices, brakes, car sizes, etc.
Currently, OSJD has 26 member states: Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Kazakhstan, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
There are four observers: Finland, France, Germany, and Greece.
There are 17 commercial members including Siemens, Alcatel, Plasser & Theurer, Intercontainer-Interfrigo, Kolmex, and TransManche Link/Eurotunnel.
The South Korean company Korail is an affiliate member.
OSJD requires unanimity of the existing members to admit a new one. /// nCa, 15 April 2024