TIR holds key to growth for landlocked developing countries

IRU joins UN to encourage the adoption of trade and transport facilitation tools such as TIR, to help streamline border procedures and turn landlocked countries into land-linked nations, prompting significant increases to national GDP.

The call to action came today in Brussels, where IRU reinforced its partnership on sustainable transport and trade facilitation with the UN office for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), during meetings with the newly appointed High-Representative and Under-Secretary-General, Ms Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu.

Driving the goals of sustainable transport and trade facilitation – in particular in Africa and South East Asia – the meetings underscored the importance of TIR and other instruments to unlock growth potential, opening landlocked countries to regional as well as global markets.

With nearly 60% of transit time lost at borders, and an environment in which informal transport costs are as high as 40% of the total, many landlocked countries suffer significantly diminished trade prospects. TIR offers the tools to achieve the objectives of existing initiatives to tackle the issue, including the Vienna Programme of Action and UN Sustainable Development Goals.