Multimodal transport, shipping and ports: current trends and prospects

This and the next edition of the Bulletin report on recent events and trends in the transport sector in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Transport planning and its impact on city competitiveness

The economic and productive development of a region is closely tied to its transport infrastructure. Adequate transport infrastructure enables companies to increase their production levels as a result of lowered logistical costs, inventory savings and access to larger supply and labour markets. The competitiveness of a city depends on elements of its economy and other aspects such as social disciplines. Despite being a rather broadly defined concept, it is widely used to categorise and compare cities, projecting the image of a prosperous city in the public eye. The aim of this issue of the Bulletin is to identify the role played by investments in transport in the competitiveness of a specific city and to demonstrate the need for adequate transport planning to ensure that economic development does not interfere with the quality of life of city dwellers.

Current developments in the transport sector and future prospects

Over the past three years, talks conducted at the subregional level have led to the signing of multimodal transport agreements, and these have been implemented by Mercosur and reviewed by the Andean Community; multimodal transport is only now starting to come into its own in South America but is already a common practice in the region covered by NAFTA. These trends continued in 1997, with consolidation being the dominant theme; on the one hand, consolidation occurred in business, with integrated services increasingly on offer, while on the other the authorities became aware of the need to promote linkages between different modes of transport. Highlights of 1998 may well include major plans for investments in intermodal infrastructure and greater interaction between users and service providers in both the public and private sectors, in order to develop regional intermodal transport systems.

Cooperación e integración regional en la reactivación y en el desarrollo: el papel de la planificación = Regional co-operation and integration in revival and development: the role of planning

Incluye Bibliografía

Population policy formulation and integration of population in development planning in the Caribbean-Jamaica's experience

Includes bibliography

Maritime transport in the Caribbean: the potential of improving maritime transport in the Caribbean, and the potential impact of such improvements on Caribbean trade and integration

Informe de Misión al Caribe, 12-24 junio 1997, financiada por el BID

Infrastructure, transport and integration: the link with productive development and regional competitiveness

A vision of the role played by infrastructure, transport and related services in the development of competitiveness and productivity is fundamental for proposing public policies linked to productive development. In particular, the supply costs and the quality of public utility and transport services are extremely relevant to countries’ productivity, GDP growth and competitiveness, and also for the development and economic integration of Latin America.

The cost of international transport, and integration and competitiveness in Latin America and the Caribbean

1) International Trade and Transport Profiles of Latin American Countries, by Jan Hoffmann, Gabriel Pérez, and Gordon Wilmsmeier, ECLAC, Serie 19 Manuales www.eclac.cl/transporte/perfil/bti.asp;2) Globalization - the Maritime Nexus, by Jan Hoffmann and Shashi Kumar, in Handbook of Maritime Economics, London, LLP, due to be published in October 2002; and3) Port Efficiency and International Trade, by Ricardo J. Sánchez, Jan Hoffmann, Alejandro Micco, Georgina Pizzolitto, Martín Sgut, and Gordon Wilmsmeier, to be submitted at the "IAME Panama 2002" Conference, November 2002.

Urban transport planning in a context of demographic, social, economic and technological change

Transport planning necessarily takes into account more than just the immediate time-frame. In the case of urban transport, planning needs to come up with solutions in regard to infrastructure which is expensive and may have a useful life extending over several decades. Therefore, planning must take note of economic, technological, social and demographic changes that influence trips undertaken.The purpose of this article is to explore some of the trends that may well be observed in upcoming decades. The article arrives at the conclusion that, in a period of considerable change and uncertainty, failure to take heed of recent trends may result in the construction of infrastructure that is not always the most appropriate and, what is more, that urban development militates against the efficient operation of public transport and, as a result, is likely to jeopardize the sustainability of cities in the long term.

Current issues and prospects in the transport sector: multimodal transport, maritime transport and ports

This and subsequent issues of the Bulletin provide an account of recent events and trends in the transport sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. This edition deals with aspects relating to multimodal transport, maritime transport and ports.

Maritime transport liberalization and the challenges to further its implementation in Chile

Includes bibliography

Main trade trends, trade policy and integration in the greater Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Trends, Progress, and Challenges in Sustainable Consumption and Production, Mining, Transport, Chemicals and Waste Management

Includes bibliography

Caribbean trade and integration: trends and future prospects

Includes Bibliography