IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto and Turkic Council Secretary General Baghdad Amreyev have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to boost digital trade tools in the region.
The agreement sets the scene for enhanced cooperation on the application of digital transport tools by Turkic Council member states, including eTIR and eCMR, as well as ePermits and eVisas, along major transport routes connecting Asia to Europe.
The MoU signing, on the side-lines of the 12th Transport and Communication Forum, followed a General Directorates' roundtable meeting, with delegates from transport ministries in Georgia, Iran, Moldova and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives from IRU, the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
A range of pressing industry issues were discussed, including digitalisation, green logistics, infrastructure investment, safe and secure truck parking areas, border crossings and supply chain issues relating to the pandemic.
At the meeting, Umberto de Pretto stressed the need for change and digitalisation to keep the road transport sector on a sustainable path and referenced the need for better coordination between authorities in terms of driver restrictions during the COVID pandemic. He also urged governments to maintain focus on waiting times at the border crossing points, and the need to facilitate border-crossing procedures to keep supply chains moving.
