Baghdad: Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi announced today, Monday, Iraq’s official accession to the TIR Convention after completing all necessary procedures.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry of Transport issued a statement in which the Minister expressed his happiness at Iraq’s accession, for the first time in its history, to this convention, which includes 78 international members. He indicated that it is one of the most important agreements facilitating land transportation between countries around the world, under the supervision of the International Road Transport Union (IRU).

The Minister stated that Iraq’s entry into this convention represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen its position as a link between East and West, noting that the General Company for Land Transport will be the local guarantor for issuing TIR carnets within Iraq. He further mentioned that the government, under the supervision and support of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has worked for more than two years to rehabilitate the land transport infrastructure to improve the efficiency of cross-border freight transport.

Al-Saadawi highlighted that the TIR system will contribute to reducing transport time by 80% and reducing costs by approximately 38%, especially since Iraq is a major transit route for goods from countries that have joined the agreement. This development is expected to help reduce the time and costs of transporting goods and provide thousands of job opportunities.

Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General of the International Road Transport Union (IRU), shared his enthusiasm for Iraq’s accession to the TIR system, emphasizing that this system has guided safe trade for eight decades. He stated that it will open a new chapter for Iraq in international trade, contributing to reducing transport times and costs across the country and the region.

De Pretto also emphasized that this project will strongly support the development road project in Iraq, transforming it into an effective trade corridor linking Asia to Europe, enhancing regional economic integration, and making Iraq a key player in global trade.

The statement concluded with the Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi, having previously discussed with the IRU Secretary-General, Umberto de Pretto, the TIR project and ways to facilitate the inter-trade process. This initiative is crucial for the global economy, with Iraq keen to implement the agreement’s requirements alongside the ongoing development road project, which aims to be one of the most important global corridors for transporting goods due to its cost-effectiveness and safety.