Afghanistan yet to fully benefit from TIR system

KABUL remained deprived of benefits the Transports Internationaux Routiers or International Road Transports (TIR) offered to its member states.

TIR, an international customs transit system for goods carried by road, facilitates international movement of goods across the borders of countries that have ratified the TIR Convention, while offering a high level of security.

 The TIR System enables door-to-door transport with minimum interference at the international borders of contracting parties to the TIR Convention and thus serves, in the best possible way.

Afghanistan joined TIR Convention in 1976 but has since been not able to benefit from the system due to decades of war.

However, on September 4, 2013, the TIR was re-launched in Afghanistan and now Afghanistan is 58th country to enjoy facilitated and secure trade by the TIR system.

Mohammad Younus Momand, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) deputy head, on Wednesday told a ‘TIR National Awarness Conference’ here that Afghanistan lacked a specific policy to benefit from the TIR system.

He cited weak support from institutions involved and lack of awareness among drivers about the system as reasons the system could not be properly utilized.

He said TIR’s implementation and ensuring security for goods’ transfer would create job opportunities.

He said the conference on TIR was aimed at spreading awareness about the system and its implementation. Momand asked relevant organs to make serious efforts at implementing the system.

Momand also called upon security organs to ensure security on roads which could be used for TIR system.

Sayed Wali Sultan, deputy minister of transport and civil aviation, also spoke on the occasion, saying the TIR’s re-launch and complete implementation was a priority of the government.

He said the system’s execution would rescue Afghan trucks from extensive and time-consuming border checks at borders.

From 2013 up till now, about 17 lorries of commercial goods had been sent abroad and in exchange about 1,125 lorries entered the country under the TIR system, he said.

He said most companies were still not up to international standard and needed a lot of work.

Sultan believed awareness among officials and security on roads could help better implement the system in Afghanistan.

According to his information, currently dry-ports of Afghanistan such as Torkham of Nangarhar, Sher Khan of Kunduz, Spin Boldak of Kandahar, and Islam Qala of Herat and Nimroz should be used for utilizing TIR system.

sns/ma

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