Workshop on Multimodal Transport & Trade

Facilitation in the ECO Region

Tehran, June 1, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

A three-day workshop on Multimodal Transport and Trade Facilitation for the ECO Region, sponsored by the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and participated by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was held on May 29-31, 2004 in the ECO Secretariat, Tehran.

National Consultants from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan and Tajikistan, who had earlier prepared their country reports, participated in the workshop. The International Trade & Customs Consultant of UNCTAD, who had prepared a consolidated report also attended the Workshop. Other participants in the workshop included the representatives of IDB, UNCTAD, representatives of the Government of Afghanistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Iran and ECO. Some representatives of the private sector of Iran also attended the Workshop. The workshop was chaired by Mr. Masroor Ahmed Junejo, Deputy Secretary General, ECO.

 The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Askhat Orazbay, Secretary General of ECO. In his statement, the Secretary General stated that ECO attached a high priority to the development of transport and communications in the region. He praised the national consultants for preparing useful country reports. He also appreciated the consolidated report prepared by Mr. Douglas Cruickshank, the International Trade & Customs Consultant of UNCTAD. Mr. Orazbay expressed the hope that the deliberations of the workshop and its conclusions would lead to recommendations aimed at overcoming the impediments that overshadowed multimodal transportation and consequently hampered trade facilitation in the ECO region. He thanked the Islamic Development Bank, UNCTAD and UNESCAP for their continued support to this project and hoped that similar cooperation from them would be forthcoming in future as well.

National Consultants from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan and Tajikistan presented their country reports. They also gave recommendations to improve Multimodal Transport and Trade Facilitation in the ECO region. Mr. Seyed Abu Talib Najafi, Director, National Asycuda Project, I.R. Iran Customs Administration and Mr. Mohammad Husseain Khojandi Moghaddam, Chief of Education Centre of International Transportation Association of Islamic Republic of Iran gave detailed presentations to the participants on application of information technology including Asycuda in custom operations and customs broker services and freight forwarder services in the Islamic Republic of Iran respectively.

Mr. Douglas J. Cruickshank, UNCTAD International Consultant, who had prepared a consolidated report based on the reports by the National Consultants, gave a detailed briefing to the workshop. He underscored the importance of the project and close relationship between transport and trade. He pointed out that non-availability of an international legal framework on the subject was a major problem in the area MMT. He added that there was no customs code in the world which can be described as an ideal model.

Mr. Cruickshank underscored the need for the availability of complete information on trade and transport. He was of the view that ECO Secretariat can play an important role in the preparation of Trade and Transport Guide. He further stated that although TIR carnet was a useful instrument in the facilitation of transit trade, however, the cost of the carnet as well as the distribution of the same posed difficulties for some member countries. He also recommended partnership between the public and private sectors, establishment of border links and institution of business linkages between associations dealing with trade and transport, raising service standards and simplification of customs procedures.

The workshop concluded with a set of recommendations which, inter alia, include, harmonization of trade and tariff policies, customs procedures, training of customs officials, establishing linkages between trade associations in the trade transport and transit areas and preparation of a trade Guide and web site giving information on trade, transport, transit and customs facilitation institutions and activities.

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