BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 3. The Accelerating the Transition to Electric Mobility in Public Transport in the Asia-Pacific Region, Phase II project in Tajikistan, supported by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), is set to be completed by the end of 2026, a source at ESCAP told Trend.
“Phase I of the project focused on strengthening the capacity of Asia-Pacific countries to formulate national policies and strategies for effectively transitioning towards electric mobility in public transport fleets. Tajikistan was not included in Phase I of the project, but it was selected for Phase II due to the government’s request to ESCAP for policy and capacity support on electric mobility in public transport,” the source clarified.
It was noted that during Phase I, specific tasks accomplished included the launch of the “Asia-Pacific Initiative on Electric Mobility” in 2022 and the publication of electric mobility guidelines in “Electric Mobility in Public Transport: A Guidebook for Asia-Pacific Countries,” as well as case studies of electric bus development and operation in Chinese cities, and national policy frameworks for Cambodia, Fiji, Georgia, Nepal, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Thailand.
“Tajikistan is the only country in Central Asia invited to participate in the project. However, any regional outputs of the project, such as a regional meeting for peer-to-peer learning and regional exchange, will be open to all ESCAP member states, including other countries in Central Asia. In addition, all Asia-Pacific countries will benefit from a regional roadmap on financing approaches for public transport e-mobility transformation,” the source said.
To note, the second phase of the project was launched in May 2024 and will last for a total of 33 months. According to Tajikistan's Ministry of Transport, in order to finance the transition to public electric transport and attract foreign investment, Tajikistan will develop a regional roadmap as part of this initiative.
Responsible entities within the project's framework will also organize national-level meetings, coordinate electrification mechanisms, assess technical needs, and make recommendations for financing public transport and electric vehicle development.
ESCAP is one of the five regional commissions under the jurisdiction of the UN. Established in 1947, the commission currently consists of 53 members and nine associate members. The commission works to address some of the greatest challenges facing the region through results-oriented projects, technical assistance and capacity building to member states in the following areas: macroeconomic policy and development, trade and investment, transport, social development, environment and sustainable development, information and communications technology, disaster risk reduction, etc.