At the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) ministerial meeting yesterday, IRU made a clear case: trade thrives where transport is digital and drivers are professional.
The 13th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Transport, held yesterday in Tehran, Iran, brought together transport ministers from across the region to exchange views on measures to improve regional connectivity and transit.
The ECO region remains at the forefront of TIR adoption, representing more than 70% of all TIR carnets issued worldwide.
One standout development is the sharp increase in TIR operations in Pakistan, which have risen by 200% year on year. Pakistan has opened new trade corridors with TIR, connecting South Asia with Central and West Asia, China, and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, TIR is now live in Iraq. Although not part of the ECO region, this marks a significant trade and transit milestone for ECO countries, especially Iran and Türkiye.
Despite progress, border crossing challenges persist, often halting drivers for days or even weeks, frequently leaving them without access to basic hygiene or sanitation facilities.
IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto said, “We urge you to apply risk assessment tools, distinguishing between high-risk and low-risk transport operations, and establish TIR Green Lanes or Green Windows. All Central Asian countries have implemented these. We invite other ECO countries to follow their lead.”
“With transport demand growing, the shift from paper to fully digital systems for transit, customs and permits has never been more urgent. Tools like eTIR and e-CMR are already available. It is now a matter of implementation,” he added.
Alongside digitalisation, road safety continues to be a pressing issue for the industry.
“IRU certifies thousands of drivers and transport operators each year to promote safety, efficiency and sustainability,” said Umberto de Pretto. “We are seeing progress in the ECO region, particularly through initiatives by Iran’s Ministry of Road and Urban Development to establish harmonised professional qualification standards.”
The MoU signed in 2023 by IRU, its member ICCIMA, and the Road Maintenance and Transport Organisation (RMTO) aims to train and certify all road transport professionals with international IRU Academy certificates. This initiative is already enhancing the capacity of Iranian companies to deliver transport services at the highest standards.
The next phase of the project will extend IRU’s international qualification standards in training, examination and certification to Iranian commercial drivers, including those transporting dangerous goods.
To strengthen public-private partnerships, provide first-hand insight from the ground, and further enhance regional connectivity, IRU and ECO established the TIR National Associations Consultative Group (TIRACG) in 2023.
At its first meeting, TIRACG identified key challenges and solutions in road transport and transit, resulting in clear recommendations now reflected in ECO ministerial reports. ECO is currently working with its member states to implement them.
“IRU and ECO’s enhanced cooperation in recent years has delivered strong results. I trust countries will continue to use platforms like ECO to engage with one another, with IRU as their private sector partner, tackling transport challenges and finding sustainable solutions for regional economic growth,” concluded Umberto de Pretto.
Bilateral meetings
Umberto de Pretto also held high-level talks with several key officials in Tehran, including Farzaneh Sadegh Malvajerd (Iran’s Minister of Road and Urban Development), Abdul Aleem Khan (Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Communications), Marat Karabayev (the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan), Mammetkhan Chakiev (Director General, Transport and Communications Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan), Ilhom Mahkamov (the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan), Bekjan Rysmendeyev (the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic).
Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in areas such as the digitalisation of road transport and customs procedures, road safety, professional training, the establishment of TIR Green Lanes, and the resolution of border crossing challenges to improve transport and transit efficiency across the region.
In a separate meeting with ICCIMA President Samad Hassanzadeh, Umberto de Pretto addressed key transport and transit priorities, along with progress on the joint IRU-RMTO-ICCIMA initiative to further professionalise Iran’s road transport sector.
