TRACECA and ADB CAREC aim to strengthen partnership in transport integration of the region

This meeting was a logical continuation of the exchange of views between Mr. Asset Assavbayev, Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA and representatives of ADB CAREC held on 4 April 2025 during the Technical Consultation Meeting on the CAREC Corridor 2 Development Strategy in Baku, Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, the sides considered opportunities to deepen cooperation in key areas of TRACECA and CAREC development, including improving the efficiency of transport corridors, digitalisation of logistics processes, and sustainable economic development of the region.

ADB CAREC representatives shared their experience in implementing programmes aimed at modernizing transport infrastructure, developing a legal framework for implementing the Advanced Transit System (CATS), and optimizing logistics chains under the adopted strategies, namely the Transport, Regional, and Integrated Trade Agenda (CITA) 2030. All these strategies are unified under the general CAREC 2030 Strategy, covering 3 major development sectors - transport, trade, and energy.

In his turn, Mr. Asset Assavbayev, TRACECA Secretary General presented in detail the current projects on which the Permanent Secretariat is currently working, aimed at development of multimodal transport, introduction of digital tools of interaction between the countries, simplification of procedures at the border. Among the mentioned initiatives, implementation of e-CIM/SMGS consignment note pilot project, elaboration of the Action Plan based on the IGC TRACECA Strategy for the development of the ITC Europe-the Caucasus-Asia for 2027-2036, introduction of digital (electronic) permits, TRACECA Fund, Agreement on a Single Transit Permit of TRACECA and others.

Special attention was paid to the synergy of the initiatives of the two structures, including the alignment of priorities, coordination of technical assistance and exchange of best practices in the field of traffic management. Both sides noted the importance of an integrated approach to corridor development, taking into account both physical and institutional infrastructure.

At the end of the meeting, the sides reaffirmed their intention to continue constructive dialogue and expand cooperation for the sustainable development of the region's transport system.

For reference:

- TRACECA includes the transport system of 14 member countries united by the idea of developing the international transport corridor Europe-the Caucasus-Asia.

- ADB - Asian Development Bank, a financial organisation providing loans and technical assistance to Asian countries. CAREC - Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program. Read more: CAREC Program

- Under the TRACECA Fund, the main priority areas are identified: digitalisation, border crossing facilitation, rolling stock renewal, maritime development and skills development. In this regard, the TRACECA Secretariat is also ready to consider the possibilities of cooperation between all stakeholders. See more details: Approved Documents of the Seventeenth Annual Meeting of the IGC TRACECA, 26 February 2025.

Related news:

- TRACECA participated in the Technical Consultation Meeting on the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridor 2 Development Strategy

- The Seventeenth Annual Meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA was held on 26 February 2025 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, where the mandate of the Chairmanship of the IGC TRACECA was transferred from Georgia to the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI)