CNN reports on vital role of transport and TIR for GCC to recover from COVID-19

IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto has appeared on CNN to discuss how TIR helps fight COVID-19 and drives trade in the Gulf region with faster, more secure border crossings.

The impact of the pandemic on road freight transport has been the most severe in the Middle East, where IRU’s Impact Report predicts a 22% turnover loss (USD 22.5 billion) in 2020. Operators are therefore even more dependent on trade facilitation tools such as TIR to aid their recovery. 

CNN also spoke to Phillip Khoury, General Manager of ADSO logistics, who said that the use of TIR had reduced border crossing times from the United Arab Emirates to Jordan from three days to just four hours. 

In addition to time savings, TIR reduces physical contact, which is particularly important to contain the pandemic. 

The CNN report follows on from recent global recognition of TIR by the international community, including the UN Secretary General and heads of UN specialised agencies, who acknowledged TIR and eTIR as the way towards more efficient, safer and secure logistics.