The Asian Transport Observatory (ATO) participated in the Regional Meeting of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on Sustainable Transport held on 19 March 2026 in Bangkok, contributing to regional discussions on priorities and cooperation for the next cycle of the UNESCAP Regional Action Programme (2027–2031).

During the session “Connecting the dots: transport and Sustainable Development Goals in SIDS,” Sudhir Gota, Co-Team Lead of the ATO highlighted how data can bridge global frameworks and local realities. Drawing on its multidimensional databases, the presentation underscored the distinct transport challenges faced by SIDS—high remoteness, limited connectivity, and growing climate exposure—while also pointing to emerging opportunities in areas such as maritime resilience, e-mobility, and regional cooperation.

ATO’s contribution emphasized the importance of moving beyond fragmented indicators toward integrated, policy-relevant insights. By translating data into clear narratives, ATO demonstrated how evidence can support more coherent planning across access, resilience, decarbonization, and investment—areas that are critical for SIDS but often addressed in isolation.

The discussions throughout the meeting reinforced the need for stronger regional coordination, improved data systems, and more targeted support for SIDS in implementing sustainable transport solutions. In this context, ATO reaffirmed its role as a regional knowledge platform that not only tracks progress but also informs policy direction and investment priorities.

Attachments