BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 7. Azerbaijan was among the first countries to test eTIR system in practice.
This is reflected in a report published by the International Road Transport Union (IRU).
According to the report, IRU and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) have reaffirmed their commitment to closer cooperation on road transport, digitalization, and trade facilitation across the ECO region.
In their first meeting, new IRU Secretary General Habib Turki and ECO Secretary General Asad Khan discussed the two organizations’ more than 20-year partnership and opportunities ahead.
"The ECO region is the leading user of the TIR system, accounting for over 70% of TIR carnets issued globally. The three largest TIR carnet-issuing countries – Uzbekistan, Iran and Türkiye – are all ECO members," the report emphasized.
The information noted that ECO countries have also been at the
forefront of eTIR system implementation.
"Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
were the first countries to test eTIR in practice, with Kazakhstan
and Türkiye preparing to follow," the report explained.
IRU pointed out that expanding eTIR implementation across the region is essential to creating continuous, gap-free digital corridors.
"This will allow goods to move more seamlessly across borders and prevent delays and inefficiencies arising when digital processes stop at national borders," the Union said.
According to the information, IRU stands ready to support ECO and its member states in advancing eTIR and broader trade facilitation priorities.
Khan underlined the importance of private sector input in shaping effective transport and transit policies. For this aim, IRU and ECO have established the ECO-TIR Associations Consultative Group, known as ECO-TIRACG, to channel private sector expertise into ECO’s decision-making processes.
"Turki will participate in the 14th ECO Transport Ministerial Meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 14–15 October 2026.
Discussions will focus on shared priorities, including regional connectivity, transport digitalisation and trade facilitation.
IRU and ECO have developed a close partnership over more than two decades. It has since been continuously reinforced through a series of joint initiatives, including the development of strategic corridors, such as the key Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Türkiye corridor, the Tajikistan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Türkiye corridor, and Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul corridor," the report added.
