1. Application of the TIR System in the Arab Countries and its Benefits to the Middle East region
Cairo, 25 October 2009
Jean Acri, IRU Head – TIR System
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

2. © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

3. IRU Membership 8 Founder States: 2008 180 Members 74 Countries
Created 1948
8 Founder States:
Belgium
Denmark
France
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden UK
Switzerland
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

4. IRU Priorities 2009 – Overview As per Art. 2 of the IRU Constitution
Sustainable Development
Innovation
Incentives
Infrastructure
Facilitation
Trade
Tourism
Road Transport
These are also the priorities of the IRU Academy
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

5. Role in TIR
Mandated by the United Nations to centrally print and distribute TIR Carnets and to take on the responsibility for the effective organisation and functioning of an international guarantee system
Article 6.2bis, TIR Convention
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

6. TIR Benefits TIR connects global economies
TIR is used for multiple border crossings
TIR facilitates bilateral transport and boosts local trade
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

7. How TIR transport could Facilitate Trade and Transport in Arab Countries
Future
bilateral
opportunities
under TIR
TUNISIA
LEBANON
SYRIA
TIR bilateral
operations
today
MOROCCO
JORDAN
KUWAIT
DJIBOUTI
COMOROS
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

8. TIR Connects Global Economies
To EU
To CIS countries
To Americas
To Caucasus
To Asia
To Africa
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

9. Transport without the TIR System
Customs procedures:
Waiting times
Disclosure of commercial data to broker
Additional costs
Inspection of the goods and the vehicle
Security checks
Customs procedures:
Waiting times
Disclosure of commercial data to broker
Additional costs
Inspection of the goods and the vehicle
Security checks
NATIONAL TRANSIT PROCEDURE
EXPORT/IMPORT AT BORDER
OBTAIN A GUARANTEE AT DEPARTURE
EXPORT
NEW GUARANTEE OR PAYMENT OF IMPORT TAXES AND DUTIES
Page 10
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

10. Transport without the TIR System
Customs procedures at departure, at borders (x2), at destination
Border waiting times
Disclosure of commercial data
Additional costs
Lack of security
Page 11
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

11. Transport with the TIR System
TIR simplifies Customs procedures:
No third party involved
IRU TIR-EPD free of charge
No waiting time
Harmonised procedures
No additional costs
No additional guarantees
Security
TIR simplifies Customs procedures:
No third party involved
IRU TIR-EPD free of charge
No waiting time
Harmonised procedures
No additional costs
No additional guarantees
Security
At border:
Visual checks
No Guarantee
No third party
TIR ends at Customs office of destination
But also Transport rights (ex. permits)
VISAS
Phyto sanitary controls etc.
Import procedures by consignee
Page 12
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

12. Transport with the TIR System
Door-to-Door deliveries, no stops
Export procedure by shipper before transport starts
No waiting times
No disclosure of commercial data
No Additional costs
Security ensured
Increased competitiveness and growth
Page 13
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

13. TIR is multimodal! The only transit system with a world-wide coverage
It can be applied for multimodal transports whenever one leg is carried out by road
TIR carnets can be used for intermodal transports – One leg of the journey has to take place by road in order to be able to use a TIR carnet.
{However in current practice, the TIR guarantee is lifted when the load is moved to another transport mode (train, boat) - this is due to the fact that at current stage, there is no infrastructure that is put in place in order to manage TIR carnet on ships/trains}
The TIR system is also the broadest in scope – we will come back to this aspect later on in the presentation.
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

14. Secure Trade Facilitation = Security
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

15. Forbidden Goods under TIR
Tobacco and Alcohol
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

16. IRU – FCS SafeTIR Real Time as per Annex 10 of the TIR Convention
OBJECTIVES
Enhance control of transport operations under the TIR procedure through:
The status verification of the TIR Carnet presented to Russian Customs office (computer to computer)
The transmission of the SafeTIR data without delay (compliant with Annex 10 of the TIR Convention)
Reinforce sustainability of the TIR System
Public – Private Partnership
Security
 JOINT PROJECT
SafeTIR has transmitted and permanently exchanged data. From its creation in 1995 to the Annex 10 in the Convention in 2006, Real Time has become mandatory.
Joint project implemented since May 2006
FCS: Federal Customs Service
In Russian FCS = FTS
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

17. IRU – FCS SafeTIR Real Time Project
The status of the TIR Carnet is :
Valid (with the following details: Holder ID, validity date, Issuing Association name)
Invalid
Not issued/False/other situations
GNIVTs Moscow
SafeTIR data
IRU Geneva
What is the status of the TIR Carnet ?
SafeTIR Real Time project:
The association can issue in security
The Customs can take into charge the TIR Carnet in security knowing that the association has issued it in security
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

18. IRU TIR Electronic Pre-Declarations
IRU TIR-EPD
- TIR Single Window Concept
- Free-of-charge for TIR Holders
- Interface in 13 languages
8 Countries:
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
- Soon available in 11 more countries:
Austria, Belarus, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Turkey
Enables:
- Risk Assessment by Customs authorities
- Acceleration of border crossing procedures
- Security in international trade
Holder
E TIR data
Customs -
Validation OK
TIR Customs Declaration
Goods Released for Transit
Page 19
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

19. TIR in Arab countries TUNISIA LEBANON SYRIA MOROCCO JORDAN KUWAIT
Arab TIR operational
countries
TIR non-operational
Arab countries
TUNISIA
LEBANON
SYRIA
MOROCCO
JORDAN
KUWAIT
DJIBOUTI
COMOROS
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

20. TIR in the region
TUNISIA
SYRIA
LEBANON
JORDAN
MOROCCO
KUWAIT
DJIBOUTI
In 2008, only 435 TIR transports departed and terminated in Arab countries
COMOROS
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

21. TIR from Arab countries to other regions
TUNISIA
LEBANON
SYRIA
JORDAN
MOROCCO
KUWAIT
In 2008, only 2’359 TIR transports departed from Arab countries and terminated elsewhere
DJIBOUTI
COMOROS
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

22. TIR from other regions to Arab countries
TUNISIA
LEBANON
SYRIA
MOROCCO
JORDAN
KUWAIT
83% of which departed
from ECO countries!
DJIBOUTI
In 2008, 38’915 TIR transports departed from other regions
and terminated in Arab countries
COMOROS
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

23. TIR Carnets usage in Arab states
TUNISIA
LEBANON
SYRIA
MOROCCO
JORDAN
KUWAIT
DJIBOUTI
In 2008, only 2’794 international transports were facilitated
by TIR used by Arab transport operators
COMOROS
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

24. TIR in Arab countries: Summary
TERMINATED IN:
NON ECO
ECO
ARAB STATES
ISSUED BY ARAB STATES 2008
1’312
1’047
435
ISSUED BY ARAB STATES 09/2009
143
498 95
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

25. TIR in Arab countries vs. total
ISSUED IN:
ECO
ARAB STATES
REST OF THE WORLD
TOTAL
2008
878’100
2’550
2’373’150
3'253'800
% of total
27%
0.1%
72.9%
100%
Up to 09/2009
525’950
2’150
1’129’350
1'657'450
31.9%
68%
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

26. Conclusion
The TIR Convention can create substantial benefits to both public and private sectors in the Arab region
The IRU remains committed to assist the competent authorities of the Arab states and the national Associations in this process
© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009

27. 28 © International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009