TRACECA and UNECE promote a new phase of multimodal digital corridor development at an international seminar in Astana

The Seminar is attended by the representatives of TRACECA member countries, international and regional organisations, including UNECE, UN/CEFACT, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), OSJD, GIZ, the World Customs Organization and other relevant bodies. Among the participants are the representatives of transport and digital authorities of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, and other countries of the region.

The main objective of the Seminar is to develop practical approaches to the formation of multimodal digital transport corridors using UN/CEFACT standards, as well as to promote compatible solutions in the field of transport data exchange in the region. Particular attention is paid to the issues of information system interoperability, inter-agency coordination, mutual recognition of electronic documents and the development of pilot projects on the digitalization of multimodal transportation.

The Seminar was opened with welcoming addresses by the Head of the Transport and Logistics Project Office under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ms. Aluа Korpebayeva, the Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA, Mr. Asset Assavbayev and the Head of the Ukrainian Delegation to UN/CEFACT, Mr. Oleg Platonov.

In his address to the Seminar participants, the Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA, Mr. Asset Assavbayev, emphasized that the digital transformation of transport and trade is becoming a key condition for the competitiveness of international transport routes and the effective functioning of transit corridors.

“Today, the future of transport corridors is determined not only by the quality of physical infrastructure, but also by how quickly, securely and reliably data accompanying cargo moves,” stated the TRACECA Secretary General.

“Digitalization is one of the strategic priorities for TRACECA corridor development. Special focus is on the need to transition from individual pilot solutions to the creation of a coherent cross-border architecture for digital interaction, based on UN/CEFACT international standards and the mutual recognition of electronic transport documents and data.”

Within the policy segment of the first day of the Seminar, moderated by Secretary General Assavbayev, issues of inter-agency coordination of the digitalization of multimodal data and cargo document exchange were discussed, including the development of national platforms, the integration of transport and customs systems, as well as the establishment of digital transport corridor management mechanisms. Reports were presented by the representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, JSC NC KTZ, QazTrade and other speakers.

Separate sessions were devoted to the issues of the methodology for the formation of multimodal digital corridors using UN/CEFACT standards and the development of the multimodal data model MMT RDM. The approaches of UNECE, TRACECA, ADB and other international partners were also discussed.

Considerable attention was paid to the development and expansion of pilot projects on the digitalization of multimodal transportation, including the implementation of the e-CIM/SMGS railway consignment note project along TRACECA routes, the digitalization of data exchange between Caspian seaports, the development of e-CMR projects, and issues of integrating transport data into government and customs IT systems.

Based on the outcomes of the Seminar, it is expected that practical recommendations will be developed on the further development of multimodal digital transport corridors, the expansion of pilot projects, the improvement of electronic transport data and document exchange, as well as the strengthening of coordination between government bodies, international organizations and the private sector in the TRACECA region and SPECA countries.

For reference:

• The event is being held at the premises of Nazarbayev University in Astana.
• The Seminar is being held in a hybrid format, enabling participation of representatives of countries and international organizations both in person and online.
• TRACECA unites 14 member countries of the international transport corridor Europe–the Caucasus–Asia and serves as a platform for the development of international cooperation in the field of transport, trade, logistics and digitalization of multimodal transportation.
• At the Seminar, representatives of the Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD) presented the Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA, Mr. Asset Assavbayev, with a certificate of honour for his significant contribution to the development of international transport cooperation and the promotion of railway transportation in the region.
• Also, within the framework of the event, a TRACECA awards ceremony was held for the representatives of the Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) and the Georgian Railway for their contribution to the development of the corridor Europe-the Caucasus-Asia.