The Secretaries General of TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia) and IRU met yesterday to discuss ways to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on road transport.
Trade facilitation tools such as TIR operate along the corridor that bridges the EU and Central Asia, with eTIR already operational in Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey. The goal is now to extend eTIR to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and spread the benefits of faster and more secure transit throughout the region.
Asset Assavbayev, Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission of TRACECA, expressed his support of IRU’s digitalisation efforts and recognised the importance of tools such as eTIR and eCMR to facilitate trade in the TRACECA corridors1. He also emphasised the need for a single permit system in the region.
Given the impact of COVID-19 on global freight transport, Umberto de Pretto, IRU Secretary General, encouraged TRACECA member states to put in place a series of measures in support of regional freight transport operators.
Both parties agreed to conduct joint activities to speed up the implementation of eTIR.
Cooperation with other regional players, such as the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organization, will be key to reap the benefits of TIR.
1 The following states currently participate in the TRACECA program: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and the 27 members states of the EU.