Baku, Tashkent to implement full digital transition for freight transport

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have agreed to fully transition to electronic permit forms for international road freight transport by September 1, 2025, marking a significant shift towards digitalization in the transport sector.

According to the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA), the decision was made during a videoconference held on February 19 as part of the regular meeting of the Joint Commission on International Road Transport between the two countries, per Caliber.Az.

The transition is part of a broader initiative under the Organization of Turkic States to establish an electronic system for exchanging transport permits. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan had already made progress in this area, with the first successful use of the electronic permit (e-Permit) system in January 2025.

On January 29, the two countries conducted their inaugural freight transport under the e-Permit system, which streamlined the process by replacing traditional paper-based permits with electronic documentation. A truck from an Uzbek transport company entered Azerbaijan using the new system on January 27, marking the beginning of the e-Permit’s operational use.

The e-Permit system offers a fully digital approach to issuing and exchanging permits, which not only shortens the time required for permit acquisition but also improves transparency within the freight transport sector.

Azerbaijan has plans to expand the e-Permit system in stages, aiming to integrate more partner countries into the digital framework, thereby enhancing international logistics efficiency.

Previously, Azerbaijan had piloted the e-Permit system with Türkiye, with the first successful transportation under the system occurring on December 16, 2024, when a Turkish truck entered Azerbaijan. Shortly thereafter, on December 18, 2024, the first Azerbaijani truck using an e-Permit crossed into Türkiye.

By Tamilla Hasanova