The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)’s Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova and IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto signed the new UNECE-IRU agreement for the period of 2020–2023 today in Geneva.

Created by IRU in 1949 to rebuild war-torn trade and commercial links across Europe, TIR has over the past 70 years grown into the only global customs transit system.

With over 75 countries who are now TIR Convention signatories and approximately one million TIR carnets distributed every year to over 10,000 transport and logistics companies, TIR is backed by 100 billion Euros in guarantees, ensuring that all taxes and duties are paid.  This makes it an easy, secure and reliable way to move goods, be it in the context of bilateral transports between neighbouring countries or more complex multi-border journeys.

The mandate renewal by UNECE reaffirms IRU’s place as the global leader in road transport, trade and border crossing facilitation.