International trade and transport facilitation through digitalisation
Co-organized by IRU, BSEC-URTA, UNECE
Hosted by the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan
Baku, 5 September 2018
Summary of the results of the seminar
The seminar was attended by 65 participants from customs authorities, associations and donors. Through the active contributions of all participants it was clear that:
- The digital revolution is here. It is imperative that, at all levels, the road transport industry and customs administrations leverage the digital revolution and promote digitalization.
- Iran (Islamic Republic of), Turkey and Georgia have been pioneers in digitalizing the TIR procedure. They have demonstrated that eTIR is feasible to the benefits of all stakeholders.
- So far, the use of TIR for the intermodal transport of containers has been hampered by the use of paper TIR Carnets. A digital TIR procedure will seriously facilitate intermodal TIR, as stipulated by the TIR Convention, 1975.
- Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine are preparing an eTIR intermodal project that will allow to further improve eTIR and its intermodal use.
- Azerbaijan, India and Iran (Islamic Republic of) are discussing the launch of a North-South eTIR project, which, by leveraging India’s recent accession to the TIR convention, will dramatically facilitate trade and transport between Central Asia and South Asia.
- The rapid adoption of Annex 11 to the TIR Convention is of high priority. It is important that all governments and associations in favour of eTIR express their support for Annex 11 at the forthcoming meetings of WP.30 and AC.2.
- In parallel to the adoption of Annex 11, more eTIR projects should be launched to continuously improve the practical application of eTIR and finetune the eTIR specifications.
- eTIR and e-CMR projects are excellent contributions towards fully digitalized transport worldwide. However, more efforts are still needed to digitalize all trade and transport facilitation tools.
- There is no good reason to delay the digitalization of TIR. UNECE, IRU and donors can provide assistance to those who need it.
For any questions or assistance, please contact the IRU Secretariat at digital-tir@iru.org
Organisers’ welcome addresses; how may global trade facilitation tools better meet Public and Private sectors needs?
IRU - Mr. Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General
Initiatives taken by TIR countries to digitalise trade facilitation tools on major trade corridors.
1: UNECE-IRU eTIR Pilot project Iran-Turkey, achievements and perspectives.
Turkish customs - Ms. Didem Dirlik Songur, Head of Department
2: UNECE-IRU TIR digitalisation project between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
IRU - Mr. Raphaël Hirt, Manager, TIR digitalisation
Georgian customs - Ms. Irina Sigua, International Relations Department Advisor
Kazakhstan customs - Mr. Berikgali Mametayev, Expert of Customs Control Department (RUS)
3: North-South corridor (INSTC): importance of a digitalising TIR to boost trade on intermodal corridors.
IRU - Mr. Kazem Asayesh, Senior Advisor
Indian customs - Dr. Sreeju Surendran, Deputy Director
4: Role of digital procedures to boost trade along the ancient Silk road.
China customs - Ms. Wanwen Pan, Transit expert
Uzbekistan customs - Mr. Rustam Kabulov, Head of Customs Control Department (RUS)
Achievements and challenges for all trade facilitation Conventions
UNECE -Mr. André Sceia Ph.D. Information Systems Officer
Funding institutions
GIZ - Ms. Ainura Samsali, Regional Advisor
WTO - presented by Mr. André Sceia Ph.D. Information Systems Officer on behalf of WTO
Language: Simultaneous translation in English and Russian
Welcome coffee 08:30h-09:00h
Morning - 9:00h-13:00h
- Organisers’ welcome addresses; how may global trade facilitation tools better meet Public and Private sectors needs? 09:00-09:45
- Host, Azerbaijan Customs - Mr. Javad Gasimov, Deputy Head of Customs
- BSEC - Mr. Kanan Mortuzov, Executive Manager on Customs Matters
- BSEC - URTA - Ms. Asli Gozutok, President
- CAD - Ms. Michaela Havelkova, President
- UNECE - Mr. André Sceia Ph.D. Information Systems Officer
- IRU - Mr. Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General
- AC2 - Mr. Farid Valiyev, President
- Initiatives taken by TIR countries to digitalise trade facilitation tools on major trade corridors
- 1: UNECE-IRU eTIR Pilot project Iran-Turkey, achievements and perspectives. 09:45-10:45
- Iranian customs - Mr. Mostafa Ayati, Deputy Director of Transit Bureau
- Turkish customs - Ms. Didem Dirlik Songur, Head of Department
- ICCIMA - Mr. Behnam Faramarzian, Head ot TIR and ATA
- TOBB - Mr. Ahmet Karakas, Expert
- Questions
Coffee break 11:00h-11:20h
- 2: UNECE-IRU TIR digitalisation project between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. 11:20-12:30
- IRU - Mr. Raphaël Hirt, Manager, TIR digitalisation
- Azerbaijan customs - Mr. Farid Valiyev, Chief Customs Officer
- Georgian customs - Ms. Irina Sigua, International Relations Department Advisor
- Kazakhstan customs - Mr. Berikgali Mametayev, Expert of Customs Control Department
- Ukrainian customs - Mr. Tymoshenko Volodimyr, Deputy Head of the Design Information Systems Office
- Questions
Lunch at the hotel 12:30h-14:00h
- 3: North-South corridor (INSTC): importance of a digitalising TIR to boost trade on intemodal corridors. 14:00-14:40
- IRU - Mr. Kasem Asayesh, Senior Advisor
- Azerbaijan and Iranian Customs - Mr. Farid Valiyev and Mr. Mostafa Ayati
- Indian Customs - Dr. Sreeju Surendran, Deputy Director , DG Systems, CBIC
- Questions
- 4: Role of digital procedures to boost trade along the ancient Silk road. 14:40-15:20
- Chinese customs - Ms. Wanwen Pan, Transit expert
- Kazakhstan customs - Mr. Berikgali Mametayev, Expert of Customs Control Department
- Kyrgyzstan cusoms - Mr. Ruslan Kozhokulov, Chief Inspector of Customs Control Department
- Uzbekistan customs - Mr. Rustam Kabulov, Head of Customs Control Departmen
- Tajikistan Customs - Mr. Kurbon Sultonov, Customs Services
- Questions
- Achievements and challenges for all trade facilitation Conventions. 15:20-15:50
- IRU - Mr. Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General
- UNECE - Mr. André Sceia Ph.D. Information Systems Officer
- BSEC Urta - Mr. Adrian Albu, Secretary General
- Questions
Coffee break 15:50h-16:00h
- Funding institutions. 16:00-16:30
- GIZ - Ms. Ainura Samsali, Regional Advisor
- Mr. André Sceia Ph.D. Information Systems Officer on behalf of WTO
- Questions
- Conclusions by organisers. 16:30-17:00
- Group photo. 17:00
Closing Dinner - 18:30 - Shirvanshah Museum Restaurant - Salatin Asgerova 86, 1009 Bakou
