Russian Federation | Saint Petersburg

North-south trade in spotlight at TRANSTEC in St Petersburg

6 Oct 2021 · Prosperity

Russia and its role as a unique global trade and transport hub was again at the centre of the annual international transport corridors forum, TRANSTEC, in St Petersburg.

At the recent 16^th edition of the event, taking place in a hybrid virtual format, IRU joined public authorities, business figures and academia to present views on two key issues: customs and border facilitation, and north-south trade between Southern Asia and Russia.

IRU spoke about improving hard and soft infrastructure to improve transit times and customs processing at key border-crossing points. Reiterating the main outcomes of its recent analysis of good and bad practice on COVID related border restrictions, IRU also outlined misguided policies and pointless restrictions that lead to trucks being stuck at borders, with drivers facing additional health risks and transport operators facing heavy additional costs.

Tried and tested harmonised UN trade and transport facilitation instruments and their digital tools, including TIR, can reduce physical contact between drivers and border officials, reduce high costs for the industry, and mitigate congestion and delays.

The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and its goods transit capacity was the focus of another session, with IRU presenting the practical results of recent intermodal use cases along the important corridor, which links India and Iran to Russia via the Caucuses.

With all countries along the corridor using the TIR system, all players in the supply chain are beginning to benefit from significant cost and time savings compared to traditional sea routes through the Suez Canal and onwards via the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas.

The INTSC corridor, with seamless border crossings enabled by TIR, has been particularly efficient for transporting food and other time-sensitive temperature controlled goods. In addition, the overland route better connects landlocked countries in the region.

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Russian Federation | Saint Petersburg

North-south trade in spotlight at TRANSTEC in St Petersburg

6 Oct 2021 · Prosperity

Russia and its role as a unique global trade and transport hub was again at the centre of the annual international transport corridors forum, TRANSTEC, in St Petersburg.

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