TRACECA and ITF: on the way to joint cooperation in the development of international transport

The main objective of the meeting is to discuss initiatives and priority areas of cooperation, as well as to exchange experience and knowledge of TRACECA and the ITF.

Secretaries General discussed the main points of the organizations' activities, pointed out the importance of an integrated approach and efforts in support and measures of TRACECA, ITF-OECD, CAREC and other organizations in facilitating international transport and finding the rational solutions to recover the economic and transport industries of countries in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The exchange of views touched upon the issues of transport and transit opportunities, trade turnover of the ITF and TRACECA region countries, the introduction of information technologies, including electronic data exchange based on the blockchain system, the process of harmonization of measures to digitalize the transport process, issues of regulating the institutional framework and recommendations for "soft" infrastructure, analysis and ongoing works to attract transit cargo flows.

In its turn, within their efforts and activities, the main directions for the implementation of TRACECA initiatives aimed at improving border crossing procedures, the introduction of electronic documents, the harmonization of requirements for road vehicles with regard to their weight and dimensions, and the development of container traffic were highlighted. Mr. A. Assavbayev, Secretary General emphasized the importance of document on the Harmonized Conditions for the Transport of Goods under the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus infection pandemic, as well as the implementation of the Agreement on a Single Transit Permit in order to liberalize the transportation process and increase the competitiveness of the corridor.

In the framework of Agenda, the representatives of the ITF team shared information on the upcoming annual ITF Summit, which is scheduled for May 26-28, 2021 in Germany, and expectations for the active engagement of TRACECA representatives in the Summit activity.

At the same time, the experience of the ECMT multilateral quota system, digital licensing and future digital transaction management, as well as an overview of the ITF activity on maritime transport, transport modelling, communication improvement and cargo transportation in Central Asia are presented.

Mr. Young Tae Kim, ITF Secretary General confirmed the readiness of the ITF to share best practices, experience and knowledge.

The Parties expressed their readiness for joint cooperation in order to activate concrete actions for the development of transport industry in the region.