The General Authority for Customs announced today, Friday, the reception of the first international transit shipment carrying an Iraqi TIR carnet, under the international land transport system (TIR), which departed from Turkey towards the United Arab Emirates.
The authority stated in a statement received by "Video News Agency", that “in a qualitative step that reflects the progress witnessed by the international transport and transit sector in Iraq, the General Authority for Customs announced today, Friday, the reception of the first international transit shipment under the international land transport system (TIR), loaded on an Iraqi truck carrying an Iraqi TIR carnet, after its departure from the Republic of Turkey towards the United Arab Emirates, in an achievement that represents an important milestone in enhancing the presence of the Iraqi carrier on the map of international transport and trade.”
The statement added that “this achievement is the result of the joint coordination between the General Authority for Customs, represented by the Transit Department, the Kurdistan Region Customs, in cooperation with the Turkish side and the International Road Transport Union (IRU), reflecting the level of integration and international cooperation in facilitating the movement of transit goods and developing the land transport system according to international standards and agreements.”
The Director General of the General Authority for Customs, Thamer Qassim Dawood, confirmed, according to the statement, that “this achievement represents a strategic step in the development of the Iraqi transit sector, and enhancing Iraq's role as a trade corridor linking regional and international markets,” pointing out that “the operation of an Iraqi truck with an Iraqi TIR carnet on an international transport line embodies practical progress in activating the international land transport system and opens new horizons for national transport companies to compete in regional markets.”
He continued that “the authority is committed to developing customs procedures, simplifying transit movement, and enhancing coordination with national entities and international organizations, contributing to reducing time and operational costs, raising the efficiency of supply chains, supporting economic activity, and maximizing non-oil revenues.”
The statement concluded that “this achievement indicates a new phase in Iraq's openness to the international transport system, establishing its position as a strategic link between countries, in line with government trends aimed at stimulating transit trade and developing the country’s economic and logistical infrastructure.”