Economic Cooperation Organization
Perspectives of the TIR System in
the context of implementation of
TTFA
Presented by Ms. Zukhra Abisheva Transport and Communications,
ECO Secretariat, at ECO/IRU Regional Conference on Facilitation of Transit Trade by Road
and TIR Convention, Tehran, 26th October 2014
Content
Transit Facilitation
ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA)
Status of Implementation of TIR Convention in the Region
Trainings and Workshops
Regional study
Promotion of the Regional interest of the ECO through
UNECE’s WP30 and AC2
Development of the ECO Road Transport
Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Road Corridor
Kyrgyz Republic-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran Road Corridor
Regional Studies/Regional Plans on Road Transport
ECO/IRU Project for Regular Monitoring Run of Trucks
Transit Facilitation
Transit Facilitation
ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA)
TTFA is in force since 2006 with the ratification of the Parliaments of
eight Member States, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkey
Objectives
•Facilitation of movement of goods and passengers
•Ensuring the safety of goods and passengers and avoiding unnecessary
delays during the transit traffic
•Cooperation and coordination of the efforts to avoid the incidence of
customs frauds and tax evasion
•Harmonizing necessary administrative affairs dealing with transit
traffic
Transit Facilitation
ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA)
A special mechanism and a FUND has been
established to coordinate, support and monitor
the implementation of the TTFA
Customs Transit
Committee
Railway
Committee
TTCC
Insurance
Committee
Road
Committee
ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA)
Transit Facilitation
Implementation of road and customs provisions of the TTFA being
administered by Road and Customs Transit Committees of TTCC:
Article 5: Customs Duties, Taxes and other Levies and Charges
Article 9: Measures designed to expedite clearance of Transit Traffic
Article 10 Safety of Transit Traffic
Article 14 Traffic Regulations
Article 15 Road Transport Permits
Article 17: Temporary Admission of Means of Transport
Article 20 Mutual Recognition of Driving Licenses
Article 21 Mutual Recognition of Certificate of Road Worthiness
Article 24: Transit Services
Article 28: Setting up Customs Transit System
Article 29: Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures
Article 30: Consolidation and Alignment of Documentation
Article 31: Notification of Change in Documentation and Procedures
Article 32: Basic Documentation and Procedures
Article 34: Domestic Legislation
Article 35: International Conventions
Transit Facilitation
ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA)
According to the TTFA, the TIR System is anticipated as underlying transit
system among the member States. The ECO has a mandate to strengthen
the implementation of the TIR system in the region and facilitate the
operation of this system in the Member States.
Article 28
Establishment of Customs Transit System
1. The Contracting Parties shall establish a Customs Transit System for the cargo
and means of transport in accordance with the relevant International Customs
Conventions for the purpose of facilitating the movement of goods in their territories.
2. The Contracting Parties, which are also parties to the Customs Convention on the
International Transportation of Goods under cover of TIR Convention 1975 will apply
the provisions of that Convention amongst themselves. The Contracting Parties
which are not yet parties to that Convention shall not be required to follow the
provisions of that Convention.
3.The Contracting Parties which are not yet parties to this Convention will consider
the possibility of acceding to this Convention.
Transit Facilitation
Status of Implementation of TIR Convention in the Region
All ECO Member States, except Pakistan are Contracting Parties to
the TIR Convention. The first ratification of the TIR Convention in
the region dates back to 1983 for Afghanistan, followed by Turkey
and Iran and Central Asian Republics respectively in 1985, 1996
and 1997 .
 TIR Convention has been reactivated in the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan in coordination with ECO and IRU in the official
ceremony which was held on 4 September 2013 in Kabul.
 The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is finalizing formalities on
accession to the TIR Convention,.
Transit Facilitation
Trainings and Workshops
The ECO organized following capacity building workshops /training
workshops on TIR Convention, in partnership with the relevant
international organizations in 2012-2014
 The 2nd ECO/IRU Regional Conference on Transit Transport and
the TIR System, Istanbul June- July 2012.
 Training Course on TIR for Afghanistan, (Mashhad, June 2012).
 Training Course on TIR for Afghanistan (Ankara, 2012).
 Training Course on TIR for Pakistan (Ankara, May 2013).
 Capacity Building Workshop on TIR for Pakistan, Islamabad,
August 2014.
 The 3rd ECO/IRU Regional Conference on Transit Transport and
the TIR System, Tehran, 26th October 2014.
Transit Facilitation
Regional study
The ECO is in close contact with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to
commence the second phase of the Project on TTFA for preparing a regional
programme on customs transit and modernization of border crossing points in
the region. A delegation of the ECO Secretariat will visit the IDB headquarters
on this matter soon.
The beneficiaries of the project are:
 The Customs Administration of the member states through promotion of
functional and technical solutions, in line with international standards and best
practices.
 The member governments through adoption of solutions aimed to increase the
operational capacity of their Customs Services, producing increased revenue and
reducing commercial fraud.
 Business community, transport sector and logistics industry through promotion
of solutions that will promote faster transit, simplified and harmonized customs
and trade procedures and working practices at national and regional levels.
Transit Facilitation
Promotion of the Regional interest of the ECO through
UNECE’s WP30 and AC2
At the international level, the management structure of the TIR Convention
includes A) the TIR Administrative Committee (AC2), B) the TIR Executive
Board (TIRExB), C) the UNECE Working Party (WP.30), D) the TIR
Contact Group, E) UNECE/TIR Secretariat, and F) and the International
Organization-IRU.
Presence of the ECO at the UNECE Working Party provides
opportunities to :
i. Introduce the ECO region at International and Global level
ii. Obtain the support in implementation of the project such as TIR Pilot
Project along the ITI Road Corridor
iii. Promote the UN Conventions and agreements in the field of transport
in the ECO region
iv. Assist the ECO toward harmonization
v. Plan and organize capacity building programme and training course
vi. Commence cooperation for conducting the studies on custom transit,
road safety, etc.
Development of the ECO Road Transport
Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Corridor
ITI Road Corridor
Further to decision of the 8th Meeting of the ECO Transport Ministers (Ashgabat, 2011),
endorsed by the ECO Summit, arrangements for establishing a road corridor between
Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul is initiated.
The Corridor is being coordinated by the ECO High Level Working Group
The Meeting Adopted an Action Plan for the Establishment of the Corridor, whereby
the TIR System would be implemented on a test basis along the Corridor. Terms of
Reference for the Field study along this Corridor has been prepared and the study
would commence soon.
KTAI Road Corridor
Kyrgyz Republic-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran Corridor
The KTAI Road Corridor is coordinated by the ECO High Level
Working Group Meeting. The 3rd HLWG Meeting will be held on 27th
October 2014 in Tehran.
Regional Studies/Regional Plans on Road Transport
Regional Studies
Future initiatives/activities along Road Corridors
 Conducting field Study along ITI and KTAI Road Corridors
 Organizing test runs along these two Corridors
 Conducting study on Road Safety along these corridors with the cooperation
of UNECE and organizing workshops on this issue
 Following up the progress of construction missing links along Road
Corridor
ECO Road Network Development Plan
Under ECO/IDB Joint Project to prepare a Regional Program for the implementation
of TTFA, the ECO Road Network Development Plan has been prepared which
represent a valuable and comprehensive roadmap to be implemented as a collective
work to strengthen road interconnectivity of the region via identified transit routes. The
Plan:
 Defines seven ECO Road Transport Corridors.
 Identifies regionally important infrastructure projects along the ECO Road
Transport Corridors.
 Develops an Investment Plan for the priority projects.
Regional Studies
ECO/IRU Project for Regular Monitoring of Trucks in
partnersip with IRU
Started in June 2011
Inspired by successful ECO/IRU Demonstration Truck Caravan 2010
Regional Studies
ECO/IRU Project for Regular Monitoring of Trucks
The main objective of the ECO
RMT/NELTI-3
project
was
the
promotion
and
facilitation
of
international road transport and trade
in the ECO Member States through
monitoring physical and non-physical
barriers for transit transport.
•
The project involved organizing and
monitoring around 140 commercial
journeys of trucks from different
nationalities.
•
Data analyzed through NEA Institute
(Netherlands) using UNESCAP TimeDistance-Cost” methodology
•
The project formulated concrete
recommendations to improve transit
operations in the region.
Regional Studies
ECO/IRU Project for Regular Monitoring of Trucks
• The findings
depicted the exact
situation on various
aspects of transit
operations: visa,
permit, fuel, speed,
costs, unofficial
payments, customs
procedures,
application of the
TIR Convention,
etc.. For example:
• Waiting time in queues takes 30% of the total travel time.
• Average speed is only 15 km/h.
• Unjustified levies are about 22% of the total costs.
• Cost of main procedure (customs clearance, border control, police
inspections, and weight and dimensional control) is 32% of official costs
Thank You