Azerbaijan's new transit portal to boost trade among Turkic nations

Azerbaijan anticipates that the newly established transit portal will significantly enhance trade among Turkic countries in the near future, Shahin Baghirov, Chairman of the country’s State Customs Committee, said.

Speaking at the 10th meeting of heads of customs services from the Organization of Turkic States, Baghirov explained that the development of the transit portal had been completed with the participation of specialists from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and other member nations, Caliber.Az reports.

A "framework agreement" for the portal’s implementation has already been finalized, he noted.

“We are confident that the transit portal will serve as a vital tool for fostering mutual trade between Turkic states in the future,” Baghirov said.

He added that the portal would simplify, expedite, and enhance the transparency of cargo transport across the region.

Baghirov further highlighted that all necessary conditions for the creation of the transit portal have been met, and the legal framework has been developed and shared with participating countries through diplomatic channels. The implementation of the portal is expected to play a key role in strengthening economic ties among Turkic nations.

The 10th meeting of the heads of customs services from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is underway in Baku, bringing together representatives from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Delegates from the United Nations, the International Road Transport Union, as well as customs officials from Georgia and Hungary, are also participating in the event.

The meeting is primarily focused on reviewing the progress made since the 9th meeting and addressing key issues, including the creation of a simplified customs corridor and the ongoing development of the Trans-Caspian Customs Transit Portal project.

Key documents are set to be signed during the event, including the protocol for the 10th meeting, the technical conditions for data exchange between customs administrations of OTS member states, and an action plan for the implementation of the e-TIR procedure in line with the 1975 TIR Convention (Geneva). These initiatives aim to further streamline trade and customs processes, enhance regional cooperation, and improve the efficiency of cross-border trade within the OTS framework.

By Vafa Guliyeva