Platform North draws international interest

Platform North is gaining attention beyond the Nordic region as a practical approach to cross-border cooperation on transport and infrastructure.

The five representatives next to each other.
From left to right: Vyacheslav Pak (Head of the Economics Affairs Department at the National Institute for Security Initiatives (NISI) in Kyrgyzstan), Dauren Aben (Deputy Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, KazISS), Ine Hilling (Acting Head of Department, Transport North, Norwegian Public Roads Administration), Gaukhar Asilbekova (Head of the Department for Analysis and Coordination at NISI), Bakhtiyor Mustafayev (Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) in Uzbekistan). Photo: Jonathan Pedneault / NOREF

In late February, representatives from government-affiliated think tanks in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan visited Oslo to learn how Nordic countries work together across national borders. The study visit was hosted by the Norwegian Centre for Conflict Resolution (NOREF).

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) was invited to share experiences from Platform North and to take part in discussions on regional cooperation, preparedness and long-term transport planning.

Cooperation without new institutions

During the meeting, Ine Hilling, Acting Head of the Northern Transport Department at NPRA, highlighted how Platform North enables cooperation across borders through early dialogue, shared understanding and trust – without establishing new formal organisations.

– Platform North shows how we can work strategically and practically across national borders, while keeping responsibility at the national level, said Hilling.

The discussions focused on how voluntary, flexible co-peration can strengthen coordination between transport authorities in regions where infrastructure systems are closely interconnected.

From long-term planning to real-world disruptions

A key theme was the importance of early coordination – not only in long-term development, but also when the transport network is disrupted.

Recent incidents in the Nordic region were used as examples of how events in one country can have immediate consequences across borders. Such situations require close cooperation between authorities on issues such as rerouting traffic and freight, temporary adjustments to regulations, technical assistance and shared learning.

– Transport infrastructure does not stop at national borders. These experiences show why trust and early coordination are crucial, both in crisis situations and in long-term planning, Hilling emphasised.

Relevance beyond the Nordic region

The visit also provided space for dialogue and exchange of perspectives. Participants from Central Asia represent key strategic and policy environments in their home countries, and showed strong interest in how Nordic cooperation balances national responsibility with voluntary cross-border collaboration.

Many regions face similar challenges related to transport connectivity, climate change, preparedness and economic development. The discussions in Oslo underlined that the experiences gained through Platform North may be relevant far beyond the Nordic context.