The draft e-CIM/SMGS consignment note presented by TRACECA at the SPECA Economic Forum

The Forum was organized within the SPECA Week and gathered representatives of governments of the member states, international organizations, financial institutions, expert community and private sector. The main goal of the event was to discuss ways to strengthen regional interconnectivity, sustainable development, digitalization, trade, transport and energy cooperation in the region.

Within the Forum, four thematic sessions focused on the issues of energy interconnectivity, development of sustainable transport systems, the strategic vision for sustainable development, as well as digital trade and economic corridors using the United Nations standards were held.

During the Session IV, “Digital Trade and Economic Corridors using the UN Standards”, Mr. Asset Assavbayev, Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA, presented the main stages of development of the pilot project for digitalization of the CIM/SMGS consignment note, including the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in 2023, development of the digital prototype, conducting tests and preparation of the international legal framework. The project's implementation experience as one of the key instruments for formation of a multimodal digital corridor along the Trans-Caspian route was noted. “The project is coordinated by the PS IGC TRACECA and supported by UN ECE, OSJD, CIT and UIC, and it aims to enhance transport efficiency, reduce administrative barriers, improve the interoperability of information systems, and accelerate border-crossing procedures. The project included several stages of virtual testing of electronic transport documents, achieving practical results in integrating national railway IT systems, and ensuring the technical readiness of participants for the transition to the regular use of electronic consignment notes in the future”, emphasized Mr. A. Assavbayev, the Secretary General.

In his speech, the Secretary General also drew attention to the importance of expanding the project's geographic scope and the commitment of TRACECA member countries to further close cooperation with international partners in order to achieve sustainable results in the process digital transformation of transport corridors.

Discussions within the Forum made a significant contribution to the development of recommendations for strengthening trade, transport and energy connectivity, as well as expanding cooperation between member states and international partners.

For reference:

• The pilot project for the introduction of the electronic CIM/SMGS consignment note is being implemented on the basis of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in May 2023 by five railway operators from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye and Ukraine, which was subsequently joined by the Republic of Moldova.
• The main objective of the pilot project is to confirm the practical applicability of the electronic CIM/SMGS consignment note and to prepare the participating railways for a phased transition to its regular use in international rail transport.
• Participation in the SPECA Economic Forum confirms TRACECA's active role in promoting digitalization, harmonizing procedures, and developing international transport corridors in the Europe-the Caucasus-Asia region.