The 10th Meeting of the Customs Administrations’ Heads of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a focus on boosting trade efficiency, fostering regional cooperation, and advancing digitalisation. The event culminated in the signing of an eTIR implementation roadmap, which sets a 2025 operational deadline for all OTS countries.
Hosted by Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee, the meeting welcomed customs leaders from OTS member states, the head of Georgian customs, and representatives from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU).
Azerbaijan’s role as a key connector in the North-South and East-West transport corridors was a major point of discussion. The Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee underscored the need for harmonised customs procedures and closer cooperation among Turkic states. Emphasis was placed on fostering e-commerce growth and leveraging the TIR system to streamline logistics and reduce CO₂ emissions.
The Middle Corridor, a strategic trade route connecting Asia and Europe, emerged as a key topic. IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto highlighted its global significance, urging stakeholders to capitalise on existing transit solutions like eTIR. He stressed the importance of investing in both hard infrastructure and "soft" measures, such as digitalisation and streamlined processes, to enhance the corridor's competitive edge.
OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev advocated for simplifying customs documentation and improving operations along the Middle Corridor. Key proposals included advancing TIR digitalisation, introducing TIR Green Lanes for expedited trade, and collaborating with UNECE, IRU, and OTS to implement eTIR.
UNECE Deputy Executive Secretary Dmitry Mariyasin highlighted TIR’s potential to reduce CO₂ emissions and expressed confidence in the integration of OTS countries into eTIR by 2025. He commended the partnership between UNECE and IRU in modernising trade facilitation systems.
The agreements reached during the meeting demonstrate the commitment of Turkic states to modernise customs systems, enhance trade efficiency, and solidify their role in global logistics. Bilateral discussions addressed TIR digitalisation, risk-based trade facilitation using advance cargo information, and the implementation of TIR Green Lanes to further streamline trade operations.
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