India gets first TIR shipment via Chabahar Port from Afghanistan

Why in news?

• The first shipment under the United Nations ‘Transports Internationaux Routiers’ (TIR) convention arrived in India from Afghanistan through Iran’s Chabahar Port.
• The consignments arrived at port of Nhava Sheva, Mumbai and Mundra.
• TIR convention will help in fast and easy movement of goods across multiple countries under a common customs document and guarantee.

More about TIR: –

• India had joined the TIR Convention (the United Nations Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR Carnets) on June 15, 2017.
• The convention allows goods to be outlined in a TIR carnet and sealed in load compartments.
• Customs officials verify the carnet and check the seals, with no need for physical checking of the contents, enabling shipments to pass through countries without being opened at borders.
• This enables a facilitative and non-intrusive environment for multi-modal transport of goods through several countries.

How it will help India?

• The convention will help boost India’s exports and enable greater participation in the global value chains.
• TIR will play a pivotal role in improving ease of doing business and pave the way for smoother and safer transport of goods across international borders and will help boost trade between India, Central Asia, Europe and Russia.
• It will act as a strong catalyst for moving goods using the multi-modal transportation route like Chabahar and International North-South Transport (INSTC) Corridor.
• It also highlights how TIR has been chosen by countries as a key tool to help activate the Chabahar transport agreement. The operation will definitely open the door for activation of other intermodal corridors such as International North South Transport Corridor — connecting India to Central Asia, Russia and eventually Europe.
• FICCI has been appointed as National Issuing & Guaranteeing Association and system is managed worldwide by the International Road Transport Union (IRU), Geneva and overseen by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

(International)(The hindu)

Pic courtesy:The Financial Express