Urban transport systems are the wheels of economic growth by providing mobility to the population and supporting the movement of goods. With increasing economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region, the demand for urban transport is expected to double between 2015 and 2050. In order to meet growing demand in a sustainable manner, the supply of public transport needs to be accessible and inclusive, while integrating innovative technologies.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has launched the “Enhancing Social Inclusion and Innovations in Urban Transport Systems in Asia-Pacific Cities” project, supported by the Republic of Korea, in 2022 as an attempt to address the need to improve universal accessibility and social inclusion in the transport sector. It aims at enhancing the capacity of transport policy makers and planners in cities and national governments in planning for accessible, safe, socially inclusive, and innovative urban transport systems and supporting four target cities in the Asia-Pacific region in initiating policy measures to enhance accessibility and innovation, specifically to address the mobility needs of women, persons with disabilities, older persons, and low-income households. Target countries of the project include Azerbaijan, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), Mongolia, and Nepal.
ESCAP has conducted a virtual expert group meeting and four national workshops over the project timeline and this regional meeting, which is co-organized with the Korea Railroad Research Institute, on 18 – 19 June 2024, serves as a final project event to present key findings, including a set of regional guidelines that will support the implementation of social inclusion and innovations in urban transport. The objectives of this Regional Meeting are to share key project findings with all ESCAP member States and relevant partner organizations, as well as to discuss the implementation of a set of regional guidelines developed. This meeting will also strengthen regional cooperation in areas of common interest and relevance for ESCAP member States across the Asia Pacific region to implement inclusive transport and related innovation policies. In addition, the Regional Meeting will serve as a platform to facilitate multistakeholder engagement and to exchange best practice knowledge, challenges and solutions.
