Customs authorities in the UAE are set to introduce a global road transport system which dramatically accelerates the movement of goods across frontiers.

The TIR (International Road Transport) System, which slashes the time trucks spend at customs controls, is on course to become operational at the UAE’s borders by the end of the year.

Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain customs officials will sign agreements with the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE (ATCUAE) during the two-day International Road Transport Union TIR workshop which opened yesterday (June 7) at the Hyatt Regency Dubai, UAE with more than 100 government officials and senior customs and transport industry figures in attendance.

ATCUAE president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “The UAE’s land transport sector has a major part to play in the growth of the national economy and the introduction of the TIR system is an important step forward in boosting trade and transport links with our neighbouring countries.”

The restrictions currently hindering road transport and cross border trade in the region were underlined by a report commissioned by the IRU in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank and the Arab Union of Land Transport.

The report put intra-regional trade in the Arab world at only 14 per cent of the total trade, and said one of the factors for this is the barriers - mainly cross border operations - still faced by road transport in the region. A survey based on 108 truck drivers’ journals revealed that more than 57 per cent of the time taken by road trips was spent waiting in queues at borders.

The highly computerised TIR system, which currently links 68 countries worldwide, rapidly accelerates the movement of goods by road, using standardised and reduced controls to minimise physical customs inspection s. Pakistan confirmed last week that it will sign up to implement the TIR system in order to boost trade and increase regional connectivity with Iran and Turkey by allowing goods to flow freely between the countries, and soon with China.

Benefits of the TIR system are felt by the transport industry overall, including a huge range of goods manufacturers and suppliers. In addition, the system protects revenue for each country by ensuring taxes due are covered by an international guarantee. – TradeArabia News Service