03.02.2016 Ankara
Speaking at the kickoff ceremony for the Turkey – Iran eTIR Pilot Project, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “This is an important step in reaching the 30 billion USD trade goal we have set with Iran for 2016.”
The Turkey – Iran eTIR Pilot Project kickoff ceremony was attended by
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Customs and Commerce Minister Bülent
Tüfenkci and Islamic Republic of Iran Ambassador Alireza Bikdeli at the
ministry.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the axiom of
consultation is tradition has always been true for them, that they have
achieved great leaps in the economy by working together and that there is a
long ways to go yet.
Stating that Turkey has set itself a great goal with 500 billion USD
exports volume, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the necessity of increasing the
capacity for both the industry and logistics infrastructure in attaining this
goal.
- 30 billion USD goal
Hisarcıklıoğlu, stating that they will be co-promoting the eTIR Project
in order to increase trade with Iran, “This is an important step in reaching
the 30 billion USD trade goal we have set with Iran for 2016.”
Pointing out that Turkey is situated in the center of one of the most
lucrative markets in the world, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that decision-makers have
been making use of geopolitics since the turn of the 20th century.
Stating that Turkey’s geopolitical advantages are not fully utilized to
generate value, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on:
“In recent years, we’ve made great strides in turning Turkey’s position
into opportunity. 40% of our exports are transported via international roads.
We neglected our customs gates for many years. Our entrepreneurs who undertook
to export their goods had to wait in lines which stretched for kilometers on
end. With the support and positive approach of our government, we achieved a
first in our country. We’ve begun to modernize the customs gates via the
build-operate-transfer model. We’ve made sure that this costs the government
nothing. Quite the opposite, effective and efficient working of customs gates
have greatly increased tax income.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that the modernization of 7 customs gates has
been completed and that customs gates in Çıldır-Aktaş, Dilucu and Esendere are
under construction. Turkey’s largest customs inspection center İstanbul, the
İstanbul Halkalı Customs Office which was a mire for exporters, has been
modernized.
Adding that they’ve begun the construction of the Kapıkule TIR Park to
put an end to kilometers of TIR queues at customs, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As the
private sector, we’ve made our commitment to bring a solution to this issue.
The wait times in customs gates we’ve modernized have been reduced by half,
passage procedures have increased by 4 times. According to the work conducted
by the Ministry, this has resulted in 400 million TRY in savings regarding
transportation for exporters. We’ve been instrumental in increasing the income
of the country’s industrialists, merchants and entrepreneurs by 400 million TRY
annually.”
- “UN has selected the project as
best practice”
Stating that this project, actualized by public and private sector
partnership, has garnered great admiration throughout the world, Hisarcıklıoğlu
reported that the United Nations have selected it as best practice globally and
are working to export this project to the countries of the region.
Emphasizing the strategic importance of transportation, Hisarcıklıoğlu
reported that the TIR system, which is considered to be the backbone of the
international road transportation system, is managed by TOBB in Turkey.
Expressing TOBB’s desire to be party to the computerization of the TIR
system by the United Nations, the eTIR Project, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they
would be a role model for the process with their digitization of the Iran TIR
system.
Reporting that this is a world first, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they
are pioneering this application to be spread out to other countries as well.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that procedures would be even easier to complete
and freight costs would decrease with the eTIR Project as well as bringing
increased transparency and efficiency to operations, “Both the traders and our
countries will benefit from this.”
- Customs and Commerce Minister
Bülent Tüfenkci
Customs and Commerce Minister Bülent Tüfenkci reported that the eTIR
Project is one of the prioritized projects of the 64th term
government, “With the eTIR Project, we are aiming for increased secure data exchange
as well as safe and coordinated shipment of goods between countries.
Turkey will pioneer the implementation of the eTIR System globally. This
will also result in real-time monitoring of the warrant system as well as
minimizing illegal actions with the help of electronic data exchange.”
Tüfenkci reported that the project developed by the United Nations
European Economy Commission (UNEEC) and International Road Transport Union
(IRU) has been put into effect in Turkey and Iran, saying:
“Pilot projects will show us the parts of the system which require
improvement or change. The eTIR Pilot Project Legislation entered into effect
on October 26th, 2015, with preliminary testing conducted on
November 5th, 2015. Based on the success of these trials, the first
pilot shipments departed from Turkey and Iran on the 27th and 28th
of November. With successful deliveries, the return shipments were also
conducted, reaching completion successfully. All parties were able to track all
procedures electronically throughout the test in real-time.”