TRACECA participated at the UN ESCAP Expert Meeting on Transport Connectivity and Logistics in Asia and the Pacific: promoting international rail connectivity in support of SDGs

The event was attended by participants from Ministries of Transport/Railways of invited countries including four MLA countries (Georgia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan and Türkiye) as well as several other countries from the region (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Thailand, and Viet Nam). Following organizations also participated: Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank, Organization for Cooperation Between the Railways, Intergovernmental Organization for International Carriage by Rail, and International Union of Railways, PS IGC TRACECA.

The issue of electronic exchange of information among railways and between railways and control agencies was highlighted as of special significance in addressing the delays at the railway border crossings and enhancing competitiveness of international railway transport operations.
 
PS representative informed about latest TRACECA initiatives to support railway connectivity include promotion for use of electronic CIM/SMGS railway consignment note, digitalization of Customs transit in general, as well as use of e-CIM/SMGS note as a Customs transit document.
The meeting discussed the latest developments related to the Intergovernmental Agreement on Trans-Asian Railway Network, including the proposal of the Islamic Republic of Iran to add a new Annex on guiding principles on electronic information exchange among railways and between railways and control authorities.
 
TRACECA welcomes introduction of such new Annex and suggested to consider amending the text in order to add use of simplified Customs procedures as one of the key guiding principles.