A conference to prepare for the 18th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum opened on Monday in Astana with 170 participants discussing how to promote good governance at border crossings, improve land transportation security and facilitate international transport by road and rail.

The agenda includes discussions on international legal instruments and new technologies for efficient border crossing and customs procedures, efforts to battle corruption, the transit needs of landlocked developing countries and public-private partnerships in road transport as well as best practices in combating trafficking.

"Development and growth rely on trade, and trade needs cross-border transportation that is efficient and secure," said Goran Svilanovic, Co-ordinator of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. "Therefore, renewed effort to remove the still existing non-physical barriers is necessary, and we encourage participants to identify priorities and formulate recommendations and requests for OSCE assistance in this regard."

Konstantin Zhigalov, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister, added: "Kazakhstan''s 2010 OSCE Chairmanship and its focus on transport open up new prospects for further development of Kazakhstan''s transport system and its integration into the global transport networks. It also increases the capacity of OSCE participating States to co-operate in this field."