Session III: Benefits and Opportunities for Afghan Trade and Transport Industry TIR as a partner for economic development, progress and prosperity in Afghanistan Sham Bathija Senior Inter-Regional Adviser First ECO/IRU TIR Workshop Kabul, May 2010

Afghanistan is not a road transport landlocked but a possible land-bridged regional Hub  Afghanistan was 1st Contracting Party to the TIR Convention in region and joined in 1983 – Mubarak for forward and futuristic thinking then…..and today….;  Again Mubarak for re-activating your commitments to introduce efficiency in trade and transport industry and become the 9th ECO Member State to re-join TIR operations in the region. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2010 Page 2

Six trade and energy corridors and border crossings with 4 being TIR Contracting Parties*  China:Darr-e-Wakhan  Iran:*Islam Qalat and Zaranj  Pakistan:Towr Kham and Spin Boldak  Tajikistan:*Ai Khanem and Shir Khan Bandar  Turkmenistan*: Aquina and Towraghondi  Uzbekistan*:Heratan © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2010 Page 3

Opportunity to improve trade and access global road transport facilitation through TIR  Facilitate and generate economic growth and expand trade opportunities;  Attract foreign direct investment;  Benefit from greater regional and global trade links and export-oriented business opportunities at national level;  Enhanced connectivity through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2010 Page 4

Re-activating TIR Operations for Afghanistan could …  Connect to global markets through the best multilateral facilitation instrument in international transport industry – TIR;  Lead to being a land-bridged country for the entire Central, South and West Asia regions - cornerstone of Afghan Trade, Transit and Transport Policies goal;  Contribute to strengthened Regional Cooperation with its neighbours and beyond;  Lead to sea access;  Expand foreign trade operations significantly, for commodities and products in particular, perishable commodities such as fruit and vegetables especially 34 kinds of raisins, carpets to name but a few of the key products – essential for agricultural produce;  Create safety and security in the region in the movement of goods; © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2010 Page 5

Re-activating TIR Operations for Afghanistan could …  TIR ensures increased Customs revenue - peace of mind for the Afghan Customs Authority;  Afghan institutions in private sector could use their limited capital efficiently;  Result in increased exports of fruit and vegetables to the markets of the Gulf states, and beyond….  Benefit from bi-lateral transport resulting in increased local trade;  Benefit from Afghan ASYCUDA/TIR links of modern computerized technology in the region and,very importantly  Benefit from the Iran/ECO’s offer of the use of the Chabahar Port on special terms and conditions for an increased use of TIR in region. Page 6 © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2010

TIR contributes to structure the Road Transport Industry including: Well-developed, planned and organised Road Transport / Trucking Industry;Well-developed, planned and organised Road Transport / Trucking Industry; Stronger Public and Private sectors negotiating capacity in the Region;Stronger Public and Private sectors negotiating capacity in the Region; Develop and create Transit / Transport corridors and hubs - opportunities for the private transport sector;Develop and create Transit / Transport corridors and hubs - opportunities for the private transport sector; Develop and create containerization depots and hubs for the entire region.Develop and create containerization depots and hubs for the entire region. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2010 Page 7

TIR creates value and trade efficiency …  Reduced costs to importers and exporters for business activities;  More prosperity through increased revenue for the operators of the road transport industry and enterprises;  Harmonized control and transaction procedures for Afghan Road transport operators at Border Crossings at Tour Kham; Spin Bouldak; Hairatan; Tour Ghondi, Islam Quala and Zaranj and hopefully one day at the Wakhan corridor with China... © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2010 Page 8

Creat more jobs…..  Road transport could generate a significant number of jobs;  Build sector capacitiy through professional training and exchanges;  Attracting foreign direct investment in this sector bringing with it all inter-linked opportunities;  Save perishable products from decaying in farms but to export them to regional and global markets – increased export revenue for much needed national development projects and programmes – a desired goal for any developing country in particular, Afghanistan. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2010 Page 9

Targets to aim for :Conclusion  Road transport links all transport modes;  Facilitates Afghanistan’s trade and transport links within the region and globally;  Generate growth, efficiency in trade operations by re-activating TIR Operations – Make the Best Use of it… © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2010 Page 10

Tashakurat we Mananna Thank You et Merci Sham Bathija Senior Inter-Regional Adviser IRU Secretariat General CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland ( Office) +41-(0) ( Mobile) © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2010 Page 11

Page 12 © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2010