Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 3–7 February 2020, a delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Customs Committee, the Association of International Road Carriers and the Permanent Mission in Geneva took part in the 154th meeting of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport (WG-30) and the 72nd session of the Administrative Committee on the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods by international road transport books (TIR).

A number of important issues on trade facilitation were discussed and Annex 11 to the TIR Convention was adopted, which provides the legal basis for the paperless use of books, which ultimately will ensure transparency in international transit transport, as well as facilitate trade and the safe movement of goods across borders.

According to experts, the effective implementation of this provision of the Convention will allow carriers to reduce the costs associated with the purchase of TIR Carnets in paper form, thereby reducing the costs of trade transactions and contributing to a more rapid increase in domestic and inter-regional trade.

During the events, the Uzbek delegation acquainted the participants with the process of reforming the system of foreign economic activity, liberalization of customs administration and the development of the transport industry of the republic.

The Uzbek delegation also met with the Secretary General of the International Road Transport Union (IRU), Umberto de Pretto, to discuss the next steps in the implementation of the Action Plan signed between the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan and the IRU, and a pilot project on digitalization of the TIR procedure (e-TIR) in our country .

Umberto de Pretto, positively assessing the efforts of the republic to implement the e-TIR project, expressed his readiness to provide all the necessary technical support and assistance for the accelerated implementation of this system in Uzbekistan until the end of 2020.