- 32 landlocked developing countries hold over 7% of the world’s population but just 1.2% of global trade.
- UN leaders call for smarter logistics, digital border systems, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
- Officials stress that the right policies – and mindset – can turn geographic isolation into opportunity.
From Landlocked to Landlinked
For the world’s 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), lack of direct sea access drives up transport costs, slows deliveries, and limits competitiveness. Climate change is adding to the strain, damaging roads, disrupting supply chains, and exposing fragile infrastructure to extreme weather.
The Third UN Conference on LLDCs (LLDC3), underway in Turkmenistan, aims to reverse these disadvantages through modernized infrastructure, streamlined logistics, and stronger regional partnerships.
On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: “Landlocked developing countries need smart logistics, streamlined systems, and stronger partnerships with transit countries. We must cut red tape, digitize border operations, and modernize transport networks to reduce delays and costs.”
Trade Gaps and Policy Solutions
LLDCs accounted for only 1.2% of global merchandise trade in 2024 despite making up over 7% of the global population. Outdated infrastructure and limited use of digital trade tools are compounding the geography gap.
Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General of the International Road Transport Union, argued that “the biggest impediment for landlocked countries is mindset,” pointing to successes like Uzbekistan’s use of the UN-backed TIR system. “There is evidence that if you put in place the right policies, your country will be landlinked, not landlocked.”
Digital Tools and Climate-Resilient Transport
Ian Saunders, head of the World Customs Organization, called for moving from paper-based to digital systems, with “single window” platforms to streamline government approvals.
Dmitry Maryasin of the UN Economic Commission for Europe highlighted the 2023 roadmap for digitalizing the Trans-Caspian Corridor, combining rail and sea routes between Asia and Europe. UNECE has also developed climate risk stress-testing tools and satellite-based platforms mapping trade routes against climate hazards to guide smarter investments.
Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions
Wednesday marked the first International Day for the Dissemination of Information on the Special Needs of LLDCs. With nearly 600 million people living in these nations, delegates stressed that cooperation is key to overcoming shared barriers.
As discussions continue in Awaza, one message resonates: with the right policies, partnerships, and technology, LLDCs can shift from landlocked to landlinked – and thrive in the global economy.
On LinkedIn, Guterres added: “Geography should never define destiny. Yet for the 32 Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) around the world, geography too often limits development opportunities and entrenches inequality. While LLDCs possess extraordinary potential – from natural resources to human capital – this potential remains largely untapped, constrained by limited funding and market access. The ongoing United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries taking place in Turkmenistan aims to help fully unlock this development potential. The success of LLDCs is essential to the success of the Sustainable Development Goals, and a better future for everyone, everywhere. Together, we can transform geography from a barrier to a bridge – connecting not just markets, but the peoples and cultures that give meaning to development. If we seize this moment, we can build a more prosperous, just, and sustainable world for all.”
Follow SDG News on LinkedIn
