TRACECA and UNECE promote the digital transformation of multimodal transport at an international seminar in Baku

The Seminar brought together representatives of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Turkmenistan, as well as other invited experts and participants from Eastern Europe and the SPECA countries.

The Seminar focused on the digital transformation of multimodal data and document exchange using UN/CEFACT standards in Eastern Europe and SPECA countries, including the development of the Trans-Caspian transport corridor.

The main objective of the Seminar was to strengthen the capacity of countries in implementing digital solutions for trade and transport facilitation, as well as to discuss practical aspects of applying United Nations standards to ensure interoperability of information systems within multimodal supply chains.

The Seminar opened with welcome remarks by representatives of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, UNECE, the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA, as well as the Director of the WCO Regional Office for Capacity Building for the Europe Region.

In his address to the participants, Mr Asset Assavbayev, Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA stressed the key role of digital transformation in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of international transport. “Transport digitalization is one of the priority areas of TRACECA’s activities, as reflected in the Digital Concept of the International Transport Corridor TRACECA,” he noted. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of UN/CEFACT standards as the basis for interoperability and mutual recognition of digital solutions across countries and modes of transport.

“Further development of digital transport solutions requires coordinated efforts by interested countries, railway administrations and international organisations, including the use of UN/CEFACT standards and a phased approach to the implementation of electronic data exchange,” emphasized by Mr Assavbayev.

Within the two-day programme, a number of sessions were held focusing on the results achieved and next steps of pilot implementation projects related to the digitalisation of multimodal transport. Presentations were delivered by representatives of UNECE, the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA, the World Customs Organization (WCO), as well as experts from UN/CEFACT, UNCITRAL and ICAO, representatives of railway administrations, ports, relevant national authorities and international professional associations.

Particular attention during the discussions was given to pilot projects on the digitalisation of the electronic railway consignment note e-CIM/SMGS along TRACECA routes, port-to-port data exchange in the Caspian region, the development of electronic road consignment note (eCMR) projects and national electronic platforms, as well as the integration of transport data into customs and other regulatory IT systems. Within one of the sessions, the Secretary General of TRACECA delivered a presentation on the next steps of the e-CIM/SMGS pilot project, including further testing, geographical expansion of the project and the preparation of contractual and technical arrangements for the wider application of electronic transport documents.

The Seminar also included an award ceremony “For Contribution to the Development of the TRACECA Transport Corridor”, during which representatives of organizations and experts were recognized for their significant contribution to the development and implementation of multimodal transport digitalization projects, including the e-CIM/SMGS pilot project.

Following the Seminar, participants reaffirmed their commitment to further promoting the digital transformation of multimodal transport based on United Nations standards, in particular UN/CEFACT standards, and highlighted the need to strengthen coordination among public authorities, international organizations and the private sector in order to develop seamless multimodal digital transport corridors in the TRACECA region and SPECA countries.

For reference:

• This Seminar was held at the premises of the WCO Regional Office for Capacity Building for the Europe Region;
• The Seminar was conducted in a hybrid format, ensuring both in-person and online participation.