How to improve connectivity in Central and South Asia
IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto has highlighted the importance of global standards, best practices and digital transport documents as tools for improving connectivity in Central and South Asia.
Speaking at a webinar on infrastructure development in the region, Umberto de Pretto also underlined that unilateral and uncoordinated COVID-19 measures are resulting in unnecessary increases in transport costs and times.
He called for countries to invest further in soft infrastructure alongside hard infrastructure, coordinate border-crossing measures with neighbouring countries and quickly move towards the digitalisation of transport documents and procedures, as well as follow best practices and global standards such as the TIR, CMR and ADR Conventions.
“The TIR system has seen significant success in boosting connectivity and reducing border crossing times. IRU is encouraging countries throughout Central and South Asia to take advantage of these benefits to facilitate trade and post-COVID economic recovery,” said Umberto de Pretto.
The webinar was organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Uzbekistan and speakers included the transport ministers of Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.