AKIPRESS.COM - The government of Mongolia and the Ministry of Road and Transport Development have been paying attention to expanding the capacity and operation of the transport and logistics sector, Montsame reported.

Last year, AH-4 – a road corridor connecting Xinjiang of the PRC to Russia via the Tsagaanuur-Khovd-Yarant road was opened for transportation. In addition, the national railway network has been expanding and the projects for Artssuuri-Shiveekhuren western railway and Ereentsav-Bichigt eastern railway have been started.

Mongolia joined the Asian Highway Network, Trans-Asian Railway Network, and Intergovernmental Agreement on Dry Ports, initiated by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and has been actively working toward common commitments.

Minister of Road and Transport Development S. Byambatsogt met with Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana and agreed to cooperate on projects and programs to build dry ports.

Minister of Road and Transport Development S. Byambatsogt noted the necessity to create a dry port in Mongolia to increase the carrying capacity of freight transportation, ensure fast clearance, and increase the volume of transit freights.

"We are planning to build dry ports in International airport in Khushig Valley, Altanbulag port and Zamiin-uud port at first, and then, in Khovd and Dornod provinces," the Minister stated.

Minister S. Byambatsogt expressed his intention to cooperate with UN ESCAP on developing a feasibility study for the dry port to be built in Mongolia, determining its scope of operation, and settling the investment and infrastructure issues.

Moreover, the Minister asked Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana for support in linking the Khovd-Altai-Bayankhongor-Arvaikheer-Mandalgovi-Choir route to the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network of ESCAP and making it an official route of this network.

Expressing her appreciation for the fact that Mongolia is paying special attention and putting concerted efforts into developing the transport and logistics sector and implementing strategically important projects, the Under-Secretary-General of the UN ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana said that she would pledge all-round support for Mongolian dry port and railway construction projects.