Global logistics is being reshaped. IRU¡¯s President shared how road transport can adapt and thrive amid today¡¯s uncertainties at the Tenth Economy and Logistics Summit in Istanbul, °Õ¨¹°ù°ì¾±²â±ð.
Ongoing disruptions caused by geopolitical conflicts are reminding everyone that global trade is deeply vulnerable to shocks.
When borders close or routes become unsafe, economies constrict, costs rise, and the supply chains that communities and businesses depend on are compromised.
What can be done?
Speaking at the Tenth Economy and Logistics Summit, organised by UTA Lojistik Magazine, in Istanbul, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½President Radu Dinescu said, ¡°ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½remains committed to building a connected, resilient and efficient road transport network, one that can adapt and thrive in the face of adversity.
¡°At the heart of IRU¡¯s mission is the TIR system, which cuts border crossing times by up to 92% and transport costs by up to 50%.
¡°But TIR is also about partnerships, trust and a shared vision for seamless logistics across borders. Many of these challenges stem from external pressures beyond our control.
¡°We need to remain agile and resilient in adapting to change and moving forward to continue serving those who rely on us.¡±
The implementation of the TIR system in Iraq is now injecting fresh momentum into trade flows.
Turkish operator Hasbayrak International Transport recently completed a journey from °Õ¨¹°ù°ì¾±²â±ð to Kuwait via Iraq in just four days, compared to the 45 days required by traditional maritime routes.
TIR operations are also starting from departure points such as Mersin, °Õ¨¹°ù°ì¾±²â±ð, to the GCC via the Iraqi seaport of Umm Qasr. With TIR, this journey is being completed securely in less than a week, which can take up to 26 days if the ship needs to reroute around Africa.
¡°Despite positive developments such as TIR going live in Iraq, our drivers and trucks continue to be held up for days, sometimes weeks, at borders,¡± said Radu Dinescu. ¡°But solutions already exist. Digitalising the TIR system through eTIR is central to our vision. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½is also promoting Green Lanes by using TIR-EPD, allowing transport operators to pre-declare goods electronically and benefit from fast-track border crossings.¡±
¡°We urge all stakeholders to adopt and expand these systems to cut delays, costs and emissions,¡± he concluded.