ESCWA convened an Expert Group Meeting on Trade and Transport Facilitation in the ESCWA region, at Le Bristol Hotel, Beirut, during 7-8 December 2009.

The meeting discussed: (1) the follow-up on the establishment and activation of the National Transport and Trade Facilitation Committees that has been done through the analysis of a questionnaire that was sent to member countries, (2) the follow up on the Implementation of the components of  the Integrated Transport System in the Arab Mashreq (ITSAM); and (3) the draft proposal  prepared by ESCWA, for the establishment of a working group on the harmonization of institutional frameworks and legislation in the transport sector in the ESCWA region, that will be presented at the Eleventh Session of the Transport Committee (UN-House, Beirut, 22-24 March 2010), for adoption.

The meeting adopted several recommendations mainly on the activation of the National Transport and Trade Facilitation Committees and the adoption of the draft terms of reference of the proposed working group on the harmonization of institutional frameworks and legislation in the transport sector in the ESCWA region and other recommendations related to the implementation of the Integrated Transport System in the Arab Mashreq.