Expanding interaction with regional organizations is one of the priorities of the PS IGC TRACECA activity

The meeting brought together representatives of the international road transport industry in the BSEC region, government agencies, international organizations and stakeholders of the region, thereby providing an opportunity to exchange views and experience on issues on the Agenda.

Welcoming speeches to the participants were delivered by the Chairman of the BSEC-URTA Mr. Eduart Kasa, Chairman of ABADA Mr. Habib Hasanov, BSEC Secretary General Mr. Lazar Comanescu, Deputy Chairman of the Customs Committee of Azerbaijan Mr. Javad Gasimov, Secretary General of the PABSEC Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, IRU President Mr. Radu Dinescu and IRU Secretary General Mr. Umberto de Pretto, Chairman of the Business Council Mr. Selcuk Akat, Secretary General of the Union of Road Transport Associations of the BSEC countries, Mr.Mehmet Uylukcu and Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA Mr. Asset Assavbayev.

During the Meeting, the participants of the General Assembly considered important issues related to the development of road transport in the region, harmonization and simplification of border crossing procedures, interaction and close cooperation with international organizations, particularly the IRU, TRACECA and other interested parties.

As part of his speech on the topic "Role of TRACECA in the connectivity of Europe and Asia", the Secretary General of TRACECA, Mr. A. Assavbayev shared the current initiatives that the Permanent Secretariat is working on, including digitalization, harmonization of legislation, development of transportation of goods by semi-trailers and expressed readiness to work together with the BSEC-URTA in a number of directions voiced.

"TRACECA pays great attention to the development of transport of goods by road along the corridor with a focus on the harmonization of legislation and simplification of border crossing procedures. Our initiatives are aimed at further development of cooperation and overcoming modern challenges facing international road transport. The Permanent Secretariat expresses its readiness to cooperate in order to ensure greater and more effective connectivity in the region," - Mr. A.A. Assavbayev noted.

The BSEC-URTA Working Program for 2024 included issues of simplification of visa procedures for professional drivers, liberalization of bilateral and transit road transport, as well as simplification of customs formalities and digitalization of transport documents, etc.

In addition, on October 28, 2023, within the framework of this event, a visit of delegations to the free zone of Alyat port was organized, which is a key element of the Middle Corridor and plays an important role in the connectivity of Europe and Asia in the region.


For reference:

- BSEC-URTA was founded by Associations of International Road Transporters in eleven BSEC member countries in Antalya (Türkiye) on 24 October 2001. BSEC-URTA plays a major role to coordinate efforts by and influence of its Member Associations towards promoting and safeguarding their common sectoral interests in the BSEC region and on the international level, in particular issues of road transport in the region to deliver goods in a cost-efficient manner, secure, smoothly and safely in an integrated BSEC road transport market and beyond.  
- More information about the BSEC-URTA is available on their official website: https://bsec-urta.org/    
- At the end of the event, the Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA presented a memorable souvenir to ABADA.