In early August 2025, the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) will take place in Avaza, Turkmenistan. This event is of critical importance for 32 nations whose geographic isolation creates unique economic challenges. The goal of the conference is to develop a new ten-year Programme of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in these regions.

“Being landlocked leads to high transportation costs—on average more than twice that of coastal neighbors—dependence on transit countries (in terms of infrastructure, policy, and stability), and limited access to global markets. These factors reduce the competitiveness of LLDCs’ goods and make them vulnerable to external shocks. The conference must focus on a comprehensive approach that addresses all these aspects,” says Arazgeldy Mollayev, lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Machinery Maintenance at the S. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University.

The new Programme of Action, set to replace the 2014 Vienna Programme, will aim to: increase trade volumes, attract investment, diversify economies, and improve living standards — with a target of reducing poverty for 570 million people.

The conference will serve as a platform to: strengthen partnerships between LLDCs, transit countries, international organizations, and the private sector; share best practices and identify innovative solutions (such as efficient transport corridors, digital technologies, and “smart” logistics); and mobilize resources for infrastructure development and climate adaptation.

“One of the most promising directions is the digitalization of transit procedures and the implementation of electronic document systems. This could significantly reduce the time and cost of moving goods across borders. Equally important is support for creating regional logistics hubs and developing multimodal transport systems,” adds Arazgeldy Mollayev.

The conference in Avaza is a key event for shaping LLDCs’ development strategy, overcoming barriers, and integrating them into the global economy to achieve sustainable development.