A brief introduction to ECO A brief introduction to ECO Activities in the field of TransportActivities in the field of Transport

Presented on

Economic Cooperation Organization

Corridor Development/InfrastructureCorridor Development/Infrastructure

Contents

Capacity BuildingCapacity Building

Regional Studies/Regional PlansRegional Studies/Regional Plans

Transit FacilitationTransit Facilitation

Transit FacilitationTransit Facilitation

Tran

sit 

Tran

sit 

Facilitation

Facilitation

ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA)

Objectives

•Facilitation of movement of goods and passengers•Ensuring the safety of goods and passengers and avoiding unnecessary delays during the transit traffic •Cooperation and coordination of the efforts to avoid the incidence of customs frauds and tax evasion•Harmonizing necessary administrative affairs dealing with transit traffic

A historical movement toward reduction of cost and acceleration of the transport services through harmonization and

modernization of transit transport in the region

TTFA is in force since 2006 with the ratification of the Parliaments of eight Member States, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran,Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkey

Tran

sit 

Tran

sit 

Facilitation

Facilitation

ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA)

A special mechanism and a FUND has been established to coordinate, support and monitor

the implementation of the TTFA

TTCC RoadCommittee

Insurance Committee

Transit Trade Committee

RailwayCommittee

TRANSIT TRANSPORT COORDINATION COUNCIL

Tran

sit 

Tran

sit 

Facilitation

Facilitation

Summary of the TTFA Articles

Article 1 Definitions

Article 2 Purposes and Objectives

PART IGENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 3 Scope of Application

Article 4 Facilities of TransitPART IIFACILITIES OF TRANSIT Article 5 Customs Duties, Taxes and other

Levies and Charges

Article 6 Designation and Technical Characteristics of Road, Rail and Inland Waterway Routes

Article 7 Combined and Multimodal Transport

Article 8 Frontier Facilities

Article 9 Measures designed to expedite clearance of Transit Traffic

Article 10 Safety of Transit Traffic

Article 11 Establishment of Offices

PART IIIDESIGNATION OF TRANSIT TRANSPORT ROUTES

Article 12 Multiple Entry and Transit Visa

PART IVMARITIME PORTS AND FACILITIES

Article 13 Maritime Ports and Facilities

Tran

sit 

Tran

sit 

Facilitation

Facilitation

Summary of the TTFA Articles (continued)

Article 14 Traffic Regulations

Article 15 Road Transport Permits

Article 16 Transport Services

Article 17 Temporary Admission of Means of Transport

Article 18 Technical Requirements of Vehicles

Article 19 Provision of Fuel and Lubricants

Article 20 Mutual Recognition of Driving Licenses

Article 21 Mutual Recognition of Certificate of Road Worthiness

Article 22 Motor Vehicle Third Party Insurance Scheme

PART VGENERAL CONDITIONS FOR ROAD TRANSPORT

Article 23 Charges and other Payments

PART VIGENERAL CONDITIONS FOR RAIL TRANSPORT

Article 24 Transit Services

Tran

sit 

Tran

sit 

Facilitation

Facilitation

Summary of the TTFA Articles (continued)

Article 25 Inland Water NavigationPART VIIGENERAL CONDITIONS FOR INLAND TRANSPORT Article 26 Ship Papers

PART VIIIRULES OF CARRIAGE BY ROAD TRANSPORT

Article 27 Rules of Carriage by Road Transport

Article 28 Establishment of Customs Transit System

PART IX CUSTOMS CONTROL

Article 29 Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures

Article 30 Consolidation and Alignment of Documentation

Article 31 Notification of Change in Documentation and Procedures

PART X DOCUMENTATION AND PROCEDURES

Article 32 Basic Documentation and Procedures

Tran

sit 

Tran

sit 

Facilitation

Facilitation

Summary of the TTFA Articles (continued)

Article 33 Provision of Greater Facilities

Article 34 Domestic Legislation

Article 35 International Conventions

Article 36 Monitoring and Implementation of the Agreement

Article 37 Dispute Settlement

Article 38 Decisions of the Arbitrators

Article 39 Report of the Arbitrators

Article 40 Functions of Depositary

Article 41 Signature, Ratification, Acceptance, Approval and Accession

Article 42 Validity of the Amendments

Article 43 Entry into Force

Article 44 Date of Application

PART XIMISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Article 45 Denunciation

Tran

sit 

Tran

sit 

Facilitation

Facilitation

Annexes of the TTFA

ANNEX-I Prescribed road, rail and inland waterway transit routes

ANNEX-II Minimum technical characteristics of transit roadsANNEX-III Minimum technical characteristics of railway transit

transport ANNEX-IV Technical requirements of road vehiclesANNEX-V Motor Vehicles Third Party InsuranceANNEX-VI Rules of Carriage by Road TransportANNEX-VII Customs ControlANNEX-VIII Terms of reference of the TTCC

Tran

sit 

Tran

sit 

Facilitation

Facilitation

Road related provisions of the TTFA

1. Exemption of motor vehicles from customs duties, taxes and other charges 2. Designation and Technical Characteristics of Roads 3. Adequate Frontier Facilities: (terminals, warehousing facilities, interchange

stations, ports, coordinating working hours of frontier posts, etc.) 4. Safety of Transit Traffic 5. Granting permission to transport companies to establish offices 6. Multiple Entry and Transit Visa for one year with a right of staying for 15

days 7. Enforcing intrernational road traffic regulations in their territories 8. To harmonize and facilitate road transport permits without any limitation and

quota.9. To allow the transport means of other Contracting Party to remain and

provide transit services on its territory (no Carnet de Passage)10. Application of the Technical Requirements of Vehicles-Annex IV (the

provision of fuel and lubricants)11. Mutual Recognition of Driving Licenses12. Mutual Recognition of Certificate of Road Worthiness 13. Motor Vehicle Third Party Insurance Scheme14. Application of rules of carriage of goods, passengers and luggage by road

Tran

sit 

Tran

sit 

Facilitation

Facilitation

Railway transport related provisions of the TTFA

1. The Contracting Parties adopt the prescribed railway transit routes (Annexure-I).

2. While constructing/reconstructing railways on the prescribed transit routes the minimum characteristics set out in Annexes II and III will be observed

3. Safe and expeditious clearance of Transit Traffic and establishment of Offices

4. Transit services on railway lines shall be performed at interchange stations designated by Agreement. Border stations shall be those designated in Annex-I.

5. CPs shall formulate Rules of Use of Wagons keeping in view the framework of the Organization for cooperation between Railways, OSJD, RIV, RIC and PPW.

6. CPs shall formulate rules and procedures for international rail passenger and freight traffic keeping in view the provisions of the Agreement on International Carriage of Passenger (SMPO) as well as the Agreement on International Carriage of Goods (SMGS), COTIF/CIM, CIV and within the framework of OSJD and UIC.

Tran

sit 

Tran

sit 

Facilitation

Facilitation

Maritime Transportation in TTFA

1- Paving the way for free and open transit traffic for vessels and crew in inland waterway.2- Prescription of in land water transit routes on:- Caspian Sea - Rivers and Canals3- Provision of adequate navigation aids based on non-discrimination4- Provision of the necessary port facilities 5- Clearance of Ship papers and providing the document of the vessels based on the facilitative on international maritime traffic

Tran

sit 

Tran

sit 

Facilitation

Facilitation

Customs related provisions of the TTFA

1. Traffic in transit by motor vehicles shall be exempt from customs duties, taxes and other charges

2. Establishment of a Customs Transit System for the cargo and means of transport in accordance with the relevant Int. Customs Conventions

3. The Contracting Parties, which are also parties to the Customs Convention on the International Transportation of Goods under cover of TIR Convention 1975 will apply the provisions of that Convention amongst themselves. The Contracting Parties which are not yet parties to that Convention will consider the possibility of acceding to this Convention.

4. Measures to simplify the Customs control means of transport, goods, luggage and passengers passing through their territories in accordance with the provisions of the Annexure VII.

Capacity BuildingCapacity Building

Capa

city

Capa

city

Build

ing

Build

ing

TrainingsTrainings andandWorkshopsWorkshops

The ECO/UNECE Workshop on Unified Railway Law (Ankara, June 2012)The Regional Training Course on Third Party Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance (ECO White Cart), Tehran, November 2012, in partnership with the International Green Card Council of BureauxThe 2nd ECO/IRU Regional Conference on Transit Transport and the TIR System, Istanbul June- July 2012.Training Course on TIR for Afghanistan, (Mashhad, June 2012).Training Course on TIR for Afghanistan (Ankara, 2012).Training Course on TIR for Pakistan (Ankara, May 2013).

(planned):Regional Capacity Building Workshop on the UN Agreement ADR, Ankara, May 2014. The 3rd ECO/IRU Regional Conference on Transit Transport and the TIR System, Tehran, 2014.Capacity Building Workshop on TIR for Pakistan, Islamabad, 2014.

The ECO organizes annually 6-10 capacity building workshops /training workshops on transport , in partnership with the relevant international

organizations

Examples of capacity building workshops/training courses held in 2012:

Capa

city

Capa

city

Build

ing

Build

ing

Accession to ConventionsAccession to Conventions

Reactivation of the TIR Convention in Afghanistan is finalized in coordination with ECO and IRU and official ceremony was held on 4 September 2013 in Kabul Membership of the Afghanistan Rail Authority (AfRA) to the International Union of Railway (UIC) as December 2013Internal procedures for Pakistan’s accession to the TIR Convention started by the Government of Pakistan, in coordination with ECO and IRUThe Pakistan’s accession to COTIF is successfully completed, in close coordination with ECO/OTIFThe Republic of Azerbaijan’s accession to COTIF in final stages.Capacity building activities are initiated for promoting the accession of the ECO member states to ADR.

The ECO has an active role in promoting and facilitating the accession of its member states to important international conventions and

agreements in the field of transport , in close cooperation with the relevant international organizations

Examples of ECO’s activities in this field in 2012-2013:

Capa

city

Capa

city

Build

ing

Build

ing

Institutional developmentInstitutional development

ECO Logistics Providers Associations Federation (ECOLPAF)

To facilitate the transit trade in the region and involvement of the private sectors of the Member States in this regard, the 20th COM approved the establishment of the ECO Logistics Providers Associations Federation (ECOLPAF) as an affiliated body of ECO and its Charter.

The 1st General Assembly of ECOLPAF will be held in Karachi after the its registering process in Istanbul.

Regional Studies/Regional PlansRegional Studies/Regional Plans

Region

al Studies

Region

al Studies

Regional Studies/Regional PlansRegional Studies/Regional Plans

ECO Rail Network Development Plan Defines five ECO Rail Transport Corridors Identifies regionally important infrastructure

projects along the ECO Transport Corridors. Develops an Investment Plan for the priority

projects.

ECO Road Network Development PlanDefines five ECO Road Transport Corridors. Identifies regionally important infrastructure

projects along the ECO Road Transport Corridors.Develops an Investment Plan for the priority

projects.

Approved by the member statesApproved by the member states

Motor Vehicle Third Party Liability Insurance in the ECO Region

Analyzes the status of Third Party Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance in the ECO Member States

provides the required documentation for Establishment of a regional scheme for Motor Vehicle Third Party Liability Insurance in the ECO Member States (the ECO White Card Scheme)

Approved by the member states

Region

al Studies

Region

al Studies

ECO/IRU Project for Regular Monitored Run of ECO/IRU Project for Regular Monitored Run of TrucksTrucks

Inspired by successful ECO/IRU Demonstration Truck Caravan 2010

Started in June 2011

Region

al Studies

Region

al Studies

ECO/IRU Project for Regular Monitored Run of ECO/IRU Project for Regular Monitored Run of TrucksTrucks

• The project involved organizing and monitoring 150 commercial journeys of trucks from different nationalities.

• The project formulated concrete recommendations to improve transit operations in the region.

• Data analyzed through NEA Institute (Netherlands) usingUNESCAP Time-Distance-Cost” methodology

• The findings depicted the exact situation on various aspects of transit operations: visa, permit, fuel, speed, costs, unofficial payments, customs procedures, application of the TIR Convention, etc.. For example:

• Waiting time in queues takes 30% of the total travel time.

• Average speed is only 15 km/h.

• Unjustified levies are about 28% of the total costs.

•

Corridor DevelopmentCorridor Development

Corridors

Corridors

IslamabadIslamabad‐‐TehranTehran‐‐IstanbulIstanbul CorridorCorridor

The Meeting Adopted an Action Plan for the Establishment of the Corridor through Implementing an ECO/IRU TIR Project along the corridor , whereby the TIR System would be implemented on

test basis along the Corridor.

Further to decision of the 8th Meeting of the ECO Transport Ministers (Ashgabat, 2011), endorsed by the ECO Summit, arrangements for establishing a road corridor between Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul is initiated.The Corridor is bieng coordinated by the ECO High Level Working Group

Corridors/Infrastructure

Corridors/Infrastructure

Kyrgyz RepublicKyrgyz Republic‐‐TajikistanTajikistan‐‐AfghanistanAfghanistan‐‐Iran (KTAI) Rail and Road Corridor sIran (KTAI) Rail and Road Corridor s

The KTAI Road Corridor is coordinated by the ECO High Level

Working Group Meeting, the 2nd

meeting was held in Bishkek in October 2013

The KTAI Rail Corridor is coordinated by the Senior Officials

Meeting of the enroute member states

IranIran‐‐TurkmenistanTurkmenistan‐‐Kazakhstan Railway Project Kazakhstan Railway Project (ECO Rail Corridor IV)(ECO Rail Corridor IV)

Total length 900 kmCoordinated by the ECO Trilateral

Coordination CommitteeCorridors/Infrastructure

Corridors/Infrastructure

IranIran‐‐TurkmenistanTurkmenistan‐‐Kazakhstan Railway ProjectKazakhstan Railway Project  (ECO Rail Corridor IV)(ECO Rail Corridor IV)

The Iranian segment (90 Km) and the segment in Kazakhstan 

(120 km)completed 

and INAUGURATED in May 2013

Good progress in the segment of 

Turkmenistan (700 km). A 444 km segment from Bereket to 

Kazakhstan border COMPLETEDCo

rridors/Infrastructure

Corridors/Infrastructure

The QazvinThe Qazvin‐‐RashtRasht‐‐AstaraAstara‐‐Astara Railway Project Astara Railway Project 

The Qazvin‐Rasht‐ Astara (Iran)‐Astara (Azerbaijan) Railway Project has three parts. Two parts, namely Qazvinn‐Rasht and Rasht‐Astara with a total length of about 369 km are located in Iran, and one part (less than 10 km) is located in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The 8th Meeting of the ECO Ministers of the Transport and Communications (Ashgabat, 28‐29th

June 2011) asked the ECO Secretariat to create effective coordination for expedite the Railway Project on Qazvin‐Rasht‐Astara (Iran)‐Astara (Azerbaijan) Route.

Subsequently, a follow‐up action plan was adopted by the Meeting of the representatives of the enroute member states and the ECO Secretariat (Tehran, February 2012), which was endorsed by the Meeting of the Heads of the ECO Railway Authorities (Ankara, 2012) and the 20th COM. 

Corridors/Infrastructure

Corridors/Infrastructure

Infrastructure

Infrastructure

The Republic of AzerbaijanThe Republic of Azerbaijan‐‐Iran Railway ProjectIran Railway Project(ECO Rail Corridor III) (ECO Rail Corridor III) 

So far two High Level Working Group Meeting were held in Azerbaijan and Iran in 2013 and two field visit were organized from Iranian construction segment.  About 80% progress has been achieved in the construction of the whole Qazvin‐Rasht‐Astara route. To achieve this progress, a significant amount of investment and technical capability were utilized.

Thank You