The International Black Sea Transport Forum taking place in Istanbul today marks a milestone for Turkey, which looks back on fifty years since accession to TIR and looks forward to the forthcoming implementation of the fully digital eTIR system.
The Forum also outlines plans for further inter-regional expansion and improved intermodal development in the Gulf, the Black Sea, Mediterranean and Caspian Sea.
IRU presentations highlight the benefits to trade and connectivity that TIR has assured, as well as outlining the successes of the eTIR pilot projects and revealing plans to expand the TIR network to additional countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq and Egypt.
A special session at the conference is devoted to “Fifty years of TIR in Turkey”, which recognises the longstanding commitment to the global transit system from IRU member, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and the Union of Road Transport Associations in the Black Sea Economic Co-operation Region (BSEC-URTA).
A leading TIR country, Turkey accounts for approximately twenty per cent of the total number of carnets used, involving 1,560 transport companies with more than 60,000 registered trucks. The use of TIR has brought innumerable benefits to customs, transport operators, holders and associations.
Following eTIR pilot projects between Turkey and Iran, which were a resounding success, recent announcements present plans for a new eTIR pilot along an intermodal trade corridor between Turkey and Ukraine that crosses the Black Sea.
The Forum has been co-organised by the BSEC-URTA – celebrating its fifteenth anniversary, IRU, the Arab Union of Land Transport (AULT) as well as TOBB. It is held in partnership with Rosgostrakh, Kassbohrer and Joaan General Transport LLC.
Presentations include those given by Umberto de Pretto – IRU Secretary General, Rifat Hisarciklioglu – TOBB President, Bulent Tufenkci – Minister of Customs and Trade of the Republic of Turkey, and Ahmet Arslan – Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Turkey.