BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26
By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:
TIR cuts transport times by nearly 60 percent and costs by up to 40 percent - benefits which can be put to good use to resume trade flows safely and securely, and support Uzbekistan’s efforts to restart the economy as quickly as possible, Trend reports with reference to International Road Transport Union's (IRU).
Following several successful pilot operations in Central Asia and the Persian Gulf, a new TIR corridor has been activated from Iran to Uzbekistan, using the route via Afghanistan for the first time on August 13, 2020.
"Two sealed TIR containers carrying tires and tea left Iran, passed through Afghanistan and arrived safely in Uzbekistan. The operation was conducted with the support of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), one of IRU’s key partners, driving economic development and prosperity in the region," the message said.
ECO and its members have shown strong support for eTIR, which could further facilitate trade along this corridor, as Afghanistan, Iran and Uzbekistan all have the technology in place for its implementation.
Managed by IRU under UN mandate, TIR ensures the security of international trade and contributes to regional peacebuilding.
The Afghan Ministry of Transport stressed that the development of transit traffic is one of the priorities of the transport department.
It was also noted that the transit corridor through Afghanistan to Central Asian countries will promote mutual trade and strengthen regional cooperation.
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