Based on new analytical research and case studies, the authors provide insights on what works and does not work, and they offer policy recommendations to address these issues.

'The Cost of Being Landlocked' proposes a new analytical framework to interpret and model the constraints faced by logistics chains on international trade corridors. The plight of landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) has naturally received special attention for decades, leading to a specific set of development priorities based upon the concept of dependence on the transit state. Therefore, the standard approach used to tackle the cost of being landlocked has been predominantly aimed at developing regional transport infrastructure and ensuring freedom of transit through regional conventions. But without sufficient attention given to the performance of logistics service delivery to traders, the standard approach is unable to address key bottleneck concerns and the factors that contribute to the cost of being landlocked. Consequently, the impact of massive investment on trade corridors could not materialize to its full extent. Based on extensive data collection in several regions of the world, this book argues that although landlocked developing countries do face high logistics costs, these costs are not a result of poor road infrastructure, since transport prices largely depend on trucking market structure and implementation of transit processes. This book suggests that high logistics costs in LLDCs are a result of low logistics reliability and predictability, which stem from rent-seeking and governance issues. 'The Cost of Being Landlocked' will serve as a useful guide for policy makers, supervisory authorities, and development agencies.

Without direct access to a sea or ocean and isolated from the world's largest markets, landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) face many challenges to integrate into global supply chains. This report identifies specific trade bottlenecks in LLDCs, which have increased trading costs, lengthened the time to process goods at the border and restricted the movement of goods across borders. Compounded by the devastating effect of the COVID 19 pandemic, LLDCs have seen trade decline more sharply and for longer than the rest of the world. The report demonstrates the vital role the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) can play in boosting output and facilitating world trade by simplifying, modernizing and harmonizing the movement, release and clearance of goods. Participation in the TFA can expand broaden the opportunities for developing countries - and LLDCs in particular - to participate more fully in global value chains. The report concludes with recommendations on the steps that LLDCs, neighbouring transit countries and international organizations can undertake to ease trade bottlenecks to keep trade flowing smoothly and to make trade more inclusive.

Landlocked countries are among the most disadvantaged countries in the world. This publication analyses the impact of geographical handicaps on the external trade and economic development of landlocked developing countries, and identifies practical solutions to address them. It examines the corridor approach for establishing efficient transit systems and outlines the challenges faced and responses of different landlocked subregions. It considers major international conventions essential for securing freedom of transit and outlines international support measures for establishing efficient transit systems.

Global value chains (GVCs) powered the surge of international trade after 1990 and now account for almost half of all trade. This shift enabled an unprecedented economic convergence: poor countries grew rapidly and began to catch up with richer countries. Since the 2008 global financial crisis, however, the growth of trade has been sluggish and the expansion of GVCs has stalled. Meanwhile, serious threats have emerged to the model of trade-led growth. New technologies could draw production closer to the consumer and reduce the demand for labor. And trade conflicts among large countries could lead to a retrenchment or a segmentation of GVCs. World Development Report 2020: Trading for Development in the Age of Global Value Chains examines whether there is still a path to development through GVCs and trade. It concludes that technological change is, at this stage, more a boon than a curse. GVCs can continue to boost growth, create better jobs, and reduce poverty provided that developing countries implement deeper reforms to promote GVC participation; industrial countries pursue open, predictable policies; and all countries revive multilateral cooperation.

The five countries of Central Asia expanded their trade significantly since beginning their transition with exports quadrupling to almost USD70 billion between 2003 and 2008 but without substantial diversification. These countries achieved this by promoting private investment, property rights, trade liberalization, and transport infrastructure in varying degrees. This study focuses on three countries of Central Asia-Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan-and applies the framework used by the World Development Report (WDR 2009). These countries agreed to participate in the study, but the results of this work are also relevant for others in the Central Asia region. The global crisis reduced trade and exports of the three countries in 2009 as it did for the world. The study recommends that Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan anchor their export diversification and growth strategy on three spatial scales.

Trade and transport corridors are fundamental to the overland movement of international trade, particularly for landlocked countries. This book provides tools and techniques for the design of trade and transport corridor projects. It is meant for task managers, policy makers, and corridor service providers.