BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 7. Azerbaijan was
among the first countries to test eTIR system in practice.


This is reflected in a report published by the International
Road Transport Union (IRU).


According to the report, IRU and the Economic Cooperation
Organization (ECO) have reaffirmed their commitment to closer
cooperation on road transport, digitalization, and trade
facilitation across the ECO region.


In their first meeting, new IRU Secretary General Habib Turki
and ECO Secretary General Asad Khan discussed the two
organizations’ more than 20-year partnership and opportunities
ahead.


"The ECO region is the leading user of the TIR system,
accounting for over 70% of TIR carnets issued globally. The three
largest TIR carnet-issuing countries – Uzbekistan, Iran and Türkiye
– are all ECO members," the report emphasized.


The information noted that ECO countries have also been at the
forefront of eTIR system implementation.

"Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
were the first countries to test eTIR in practice, with Kazakhstan
and Türkiye preparing to follow," the report explained.


IRU pointed out that expanding eTIR implementation across the
region is essential to creating continuous, gap-free digital
corridors.







"This will allow goods to move more seamlessly across borders
and prevent delays and inefficiencies arising when digital
processes stop at national borders," the Union said.


According to the information, IRU stands ready to support ECO
and its member states in advancing eTIR and broader trade
facilitation priorities.


Khan underlined the importance of private sector input in
shaping effective transport and transit policies. For this aim, IRU
and ECO have established the ECO-TIR Associations Consultative
Group, known as ECO-TIRACG, to channel private sector expertise
into ECO’s decision-making processes.


"Turki will participate in the 14th ECO Transport Ministerial
Meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 14–15 October 2026.


Discussions will focus on shared priorities, including regional
connectivity, transport digitalisation and trade facilitation.


IRU and ECO have developed a close partnership over more than
two decades. It has since been continuously reinforced through a
series of joint initiatives, including the development of strategic
corridors, such as the key
Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Türkiye corridor, the
Tajikistan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Türkiye corridor, and
Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul corridor," the report added.