The application of the eTIR system in transit operations between Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan has begun, the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Azerbaijan reported.
A shipment of televisions and music equipment traveling from Azerbaijan eastward was delivered across the Caspian Sea to the port of Turkmenbashi, then through the Farap checkpoint into Uzbekistan. This operation became the first eTIR transport under a single procedure uniting Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
In the westward direction, four trucks carrying cotton, juices, water and confectionery from Turkmenistan, after completing customs clearance at the port of Turkmenbashi, crossed the Caspian Sea by ferry and arrived at the International Sea Trade Port.
A key role in the system's implementation was played by cooperation between the customs authorities of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and its member organizations — ABADA, THADA and AIRCUZ.
The project, implemented with IRU support, creates opportunities for real-time electronic exchange of customs data, reduction of paper documentation, minimization of risks, acceleration of customs procedures, cost reduction, and simplification of operations and trade.
At the same time, the application of the eTIR system is important for enhancing the attractiveness of the Middle Corridor and increasing freight volumes along this route.