Following TIR operations under Chabahar Agreement, which connects India to Afghanistan via Chabahar port in Iran, IRU is now working to facilitate transport in International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which connects India to Russia via Iran. TIR digitalisation is the main objective to facilitate transit through this intermodal corridor which reduces significantly the time and costs of the transport.
Furthermore, TIR system helped new corridors become operational in South Asia and connect the region to Central and West Asia as well as CIS region. Following accession and implementation of TIR in Pakistan, seamless transports have been started from Pakistan to Uzbekistan via Afghanistan and to Azerbaijan and Russia via Iran. ITI corridor, which connects Pakistan to Turkey via Iran, was also activated with the support of ECO and IRU. These new road corridors, which are now operational under TIR, reduce the time of transport up to 80% and the costs by 20% comparing to traditional sea routes or transshipment of goods at each and every borders.
IRU in Asia & the Pacific
In the densely populated region of Asia Pacific, IRU’s activity focuses on improving trade and mobility for millions of communities. China, India and Pakistan’s accession and implementation of TIR is an exciting step that will closely link Asia with Europe and help create the modern-day ‘Silk Road’ and new corridors such as International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
From China to Lao PDR, countries in this region are at different stages of development when it comes to road transport infrastructure and regulation. Driving across the Asia Pacific, vehicles meet standards in one country while failing them in others. Other challenges in the region include bureaucratic ‘grey areas’ such as corruption activity at border crossing points and en route, and the implementation challenges of multi-lateral or bi-lateral agreements within the region.
Advancing Belt and Road prospects, China opened 6 customs checkpoints to start TIR operations in 2018, and then expanded TIR to all its 1,200+ customs checkpoints since June 2019. The rapid development shows the country’s commitment to opening up and promoting win-win cooperation.
To move further with trade facilitation, IRU is in discussions with China’s neighbouring countries, encouraging them to also accede to TIR. Elsewhere, China is actively studying other UN Conventions including CMR (Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road) and ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road).
Connecting east and west with road transport and TIR
‘Belt and Road’ is the name given to the modern-day Silk Road, the ancient trade route that previously linked China with its Eurasian counterparts, and which, thanks to better connections by road, train and sea, is opening up the trade bridge between China and its neighbours, and countries farther away. China’s accession to TIR has been the missing piece of the jigsaw, as most of the other countries along this new trade route are already TIR contracting parties. Since China implemented TIR, road transport has now connected China with over 30 Belt and Road countries, providing a highly efficient, flexible and door-to-door logistics solution to facilitate the growing trade along these corridors.
Following TIR operations under Chabahar Agreement, which connects India to Afghanistan via Chabahar port in Iran, IRU is now working to facilitate transport in International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which connects India to Russia via Iran. TIR digitalisation is the main objective to facilitate transit through this intermodal corridor which reduces significantly the time and costs of the transport.
Furthermore, TIR system helped new corridors become operational in South Asia and connect the region to Central and West Asia as well as CIS region. Following accession and implementation of TIR in Pakistan, seamless transports have been started from Pakistan to Uzbekistan via Afghanistan and to Azerbaijan and Russia via Iran. ITI corridor, which connects Pakistan to Turkey via Iran, was also activated with the support of ECO and IRU. These new road corridors, which are now operational under TIR, reduce the time of transport up to 80% and the costs by 20% comparing to traditional sea routes or transshipment of goods at each and every borders.
IRU regional office
Chief Representative: Yan Zhou
1011, 10/F
Building 3
No. 38 Dongsanhuan North Road
Chaoyang District
Beijing
China
Tel: +86-10-6507 3880
Regional news
Tashkent
Driving resilience and prosperity in focus at Tashkent conference
Istanbul
IRU outlines border problems and solutions at Turkic states forum
Qingdao
New TIR route bridging China’s east coast and Central Asia
Tashkent
IRU and NLC weigh new plans to boost Pakistani trade and transport
Kashgar
New TIR trade route opens connecting China to Pakistan and Afghanistan
IRU members in Asia & the Pacific
Singapore
AAS
North Lakes
ATIA
Beijing
CCOIC
Shenzhen
CEVA
Beijing
CRTA
New Delhi
FICCI
Karachi
FOAP
Shenzhen
Huawei
Jiaxing
HYE
Tokyo
JTA
Ulaanbaatar
NARTAM
Karachi
PNC-ICC
Wellington
RTFNZ
Chengdu
SPSI
Zhengzhou
ZZHY
IRU Partners in Asia & Pacific