ECO, UNECE advance process to bring online Tehran-linked transport corridor in Tashkent talks
The seventh meeting of the Coordination Committee between the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on the Trans-Caspian and Almaty-Tehran-Istanbul transport corridors was held in Tashkent.
The session on Thursday focused on operationalizing regional transport corridors, modernizing infrastructure, enhancing data flows during multimodal transport operations, and harmonizing transport documentation to support cross-border trade and logistics integration across the ECO region, IRNA reported.
The seventh session of the ECO-UNECE Joint Coordination Committee on the Trans-Caspian and Almaty-Tehran-Istanbul corridors convened in the Uzbek capital, with representatives from eight member countries. Alireza Mahmoudi, Director of Transport and Communications at ECO, represented the ECO Secretariat at the meeting.
Discussions addressed key operational and digitalization aspects of corridor management, including simulations of data and information flows during multimodal transport operations along segments of the Trans-Caspian routes. Practical bottlenecks and opportunities to improve coordination and real-time information sharing were debated, with member states contributing valuable insights.
Existing transport documentation used across the corridors was also reviewed to identify specific opportunities for harmonization, simplification, and digitization. These measures aim to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative burdens on transport companies and border agencies.
In his remarks, ECO’s transport director emphasized the strategic importance of the corridors in fostering sustainable, resilient, and integrated regional connectivity.
“The sessions of this meeting not only reflect the operational realities on the ground but also the strategic foresight required to unlock the full potential of our shared corridors,” Mahmoudi stated.
He described the upcoming Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, to be hosted soon in Turkmenistan, as a milestone for regional transport and transit industries.
In addition to plenary sessions, a technical workshop on transport safety and the handling of containers and other cargo transport units (CTUs) was held. The workshop provided stakeholders with best practices and policy guidance to improve transport safety and mitigate operational risks.
The ECO secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to close collaboration with UNECE and all member states to ensure continued progress in infrastructure development, trade facilitation, and digital transport solutions.