Improving Transnational Transport Corridors
In the OIC Member Countries: Concepts and Cases
80
Table 14: Openness of TRACECA countries
Source: Fimotions (2017), analysis on data o
4.3.4. Trade Facilitation
For the longer flows between Europe and the Far East, TRACECA routes mainly compete with
inter-continental shipping and rail through Russia. A major concern for the competitiveness is
the number of border crossings, so this section focuses how TRACECA addresses the
administrative interface between member countries, whereas more technical harmonisation is
dealt with under Technical and Operational factors.
TRACECA works towards implementation of one stop border crossings rather than one exit
and one entry border post. According to Ismayil (2017), it is difficult and a bit slow to
implement, but Turkey-Georgia works as well as the border between Ukraine and Moldova.
Sometimes borders are closed due to political arguments, e.g. between Uzbekistan and
Tajikistan. In addition, the land borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan and Turkey
respectively are closed as mentioned above, but air transport works. Transports Internationaux
Routiers (or International Road Transports, TIR)31 for road transit is implemented in most
countries, but Iran has tougher rules than other countries. Iran has ratified the Geneva
convention for free passage but has implemented own version and imposes a very high fuel
surcharge.
The main problem for rail is the administrative process at border crossings. TIR does not apply
to rail, Agreement on International Goods Transport by Rail (SGMS) is the equivalent, but it is
not implemented along TRACECA. Paperless rail transport is wanted, but legal amendments
have to be done in member states. The border between Ukraine and Moldova works well,
though.
3
GDP Imports Exports
AZER 53,047 9,211 11,327 38.7%
ARME 10,561 3,230 1,776 47.4%
BULG 48,953 28,875 26,088 112.3%
GEOR 13,965 7,236 2,114 66.9%
IRAN 425,326 68,319 130,544 46.8%
KAZA 184,361 25,175 36,775 33.6%
KYRG 6,572 3,844 1,423 80.2%
MOLD 6,551 4,020 2,045 92.6%
ROMA 177,954 74,605 63,581 77.7%
TAJ 7,853 3,223 673 49.6%
TURKEY 718,221 198,602 142,606 47.5%
TURKMEN 37,334 4,664 7,415 32.4%
UKRA 90,615 37,516 38,127 83.5%
UZBE 66,733 9,163 6,983 24.2%
Country
USD Millions
Openness