Transport infrastructure is essential for inclusive growth and poverty reduction but the investments in building and maintaining it remain sub-optimal as long as the movement of goods is not seamless across countries and (sub)regions. Harmonized standards, operations and processes are critical to facilitate international transport and trade and to eliminate market access barriers. Many countries negotiate international treaties or become parties to existing instruments in order to eliminate such barriers and achieve better regional integration.

Presented by Shewangizaw Kifle, Director of Ethiopian Railways Corporation's Business Development and Strategy Department, on November 25, 2019 at SSATP's Annual General Meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, this presentation makes the case for integrating the different modes of transport with railway development projects.