Azerbaijan is cementing its position as a pivotal player in regional transit due to its strategic location at the crossroads of major trade and transport routes, including the Middle Corridor, the TRACECA network, and the North-South International Transport Corridor. In an exclusive interview with Trend, Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General of the International Road Transport Union (IRU), highlighted Azerbaijan’s significance in global logistics.
De Pretto noted that regional efforts to digitize transport and customs infrastructure are advancing, supported by the adoption of key agreements like eTIR and e-CMR. A notable milestone was the Digitalization Roadmap for the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, adopted in Baku in November 2023 during the UN’s SPECA program, which set an ambitious target to begin implementing eTIR by the end of 2024. “Digitization and improved coordination across transport modes can significantly enhance both physical infrastructure and soft connectivity, such as services and social frameworks,” he stated.
He further emphasized that in January 2025, customs authorities of Turkic states signed an action plan to adopt eTIR. The issue of digitization and eTIR was also a key focus at the 10th meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization’s (ECO) Customs Administrations Council in Tehran in May. The IRU and ECO urged regional customs bodies to accelerate the adoption of these systems to boost efficiency and streamline cross-border operations.
As a member of SPECA, the Organization of Turkic States, and ECO, Azerbaijan is actively engaged in these initiatives. The IRU supports Azerbaijan and other regional countries in their efforts to advance trade and transit, collaborating closely with customs and transport authorities on eTIR and e-CMR implementation. De Pretto highlighted that with Azerbaijan and Georgia fully integrated into eTIR, and Turkmenistan making progress, the Middle Corridor is poised to become the world’s first fully operational eTIR corridor.
Azerbaijan accounts for a significant share of TRACECA’s freight traffic, with 55% of goods transported by road. The IRU commended its partnership with the Azerbaijani government and ABADA, its local member, in addressing challenges and opportunities in the transport sector. “Governments and businesses worldwide, including Azerbaijan, leverage IRU’s expertise to develop a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient road transport sector,” de Pretto said.
He also noted IRU’s participation in the UN’s LLDC3 conference in Awaza, Turkmenistan, where Azerbaijan, a landlocked country, was represented. The IRU presented proposals on harmonization, soft infrastructure, training, and other measures to unlock the development potential of landlocked nations.
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