First Shipment Under TIR Convention From Afghanistan Via Chabahar Reaches Ports In Mumbai And Mundra

The maiden shipment under the United Nations ‘Transports Internationaux Routiers’ (TIR) convention has reached India from Afghanistan via the Chabahar Port in Iran, reports DefenceNews.

The consignments were delivered at the Indian ports of Nhava Sheva, Mumbai and Mundra.

Applauding the success of the maiden shipment, Chairman of the Central

Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, stated the TIR convention would facilitate quick and easy transportation of goods across different countries under a common customs document and guarantee.

India had become a party to the TIR Convention on 15 June 2017.

Secretary-General of FICCI, Dilip Shenoy, said, “TIR will play a pivotal role in improving ease of doing business and pave the way for smoother and safer transport of goods across international borders and will help boost trade between India, Central Asia, Europe and Russia.”

Globally, more than 34,000 operators have permission to use the TIR system and in 2017 alone, TIR Carnets in excess of 1.2 million were issued worldwide. The convention greatly boosts prospects for international trade, thereby providing a number of advantages to national economies. The TIR system is operational in 62 countries.

Internationally the system is managed by the International Road Transport Union (IRU), based in Geneva. Secretary-General of the IRU, Umberto de Pretto called the opening of Chabahar Port under the TIR Convention to be a very significant moment, as this would provide landlocked countries with better connectivity and ensure seamless facilitation of goods crossing national borders.