eTIR Roadmap Organization of Turkish States

The 10th meeting of the customs authorities of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) recently held in Baku on 16 January 2025 resulted in the signing of an Action Plan to implement the e-TIR procedure in the member countries, in accordance with the TIR Convention.  The signing of the eTIR implementation roadmap by OTS countries will further pave the way for the modernization and digitalization of the cargo transit along the Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport corridor and expand the rapid implementation of the eTIR procedure. The implementation roadmap establishes a 2025 deadline for full deployment across all OTS countries.  

With its electronic procedure (eTIR), the UNECE-serviced TIR Convention, serves as a flagship international agreement that streamlines trade and transport operations, reducing waiting times and optimizing the allocation of customs resources, including for combatting fraudulent activities, noted UNECE Deputy Executive Secretary Dmitry Mariyasin, addressing the 10th meeting of the Customs Administrations’ Heads of OTS in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

Throughout the years, both the private sector and customs authorities have continuously benefited from the advantages that the TIR Convention brings to their professional lives. These benefits have enabled more than 34,000 transport and logistics companies in its 78 Contracting Parties to reduce cross-border transport time by up to 80% and costs by up to 38%.  

Launched in 2021, eTIR brings forth a range of environmentally friendly processes that can reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector, namely by eliminating the need for physical TIR carnets and the associated logistics and paper production, including the queueing and waiting times at borders.