The International Road Transport Union (IRU) confirmed on Friday that Iraq has made significant progress in transit speeds under the TIR international trade system.
A report issued by the IRU, reviewed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that “Iraq has become a growing strategic transit hub after successfully reducing the transit time for film equipment from Hungary to Jordan from five weeks to just six days, benefiting from the recently reopened Iraqi international highway for commercial traffic under the TIR international customs transit system.”
He added that “the operation proved that the Iraqi route has become a new path the world is beginning to discover, after it facilitated the unprecedentedly rapid passage of the heavy European shipment to Jordan, where the equipment will be used to produce a film showcasing Jordan’s history and heritage sites.”
The report indicated that “this achievement reflects Iraq’s growing role as a vital link connecting Europe with the Gulf states and the Middle East, especially with the increasing reliance on the TIR system, which contributes to expediting transit procedures and reducing stoppages at borders, thus enhancing the capabilities of supply chains in the region.”
The report noted that “the digital expansion of the TIR system and the activation of international transit routes through Iraq will enhance the country’s position on the global trade map and encourage the private sector to utilize the Iraqi route due to its time and cost savings.”
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Transport previously announced the implementation of the second international transit trip within the TIR system through Iraqi territory, on the route from the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing in Dohuk to the Umm Qasr North Port in Basra. Government statistics indicate that 1,000 transit operations have been recorded on this route since last June.
