Tajikistan's Transit Freight Trade Flourishes
Trade volume has increased by 74% this year. In addition to investments improving roads and logistics facilities, Dushanbe has signed a cooperation agreement with South Korea to advance the digitalization of transportation services.
Dushanbe (Asia News) – Over the past six months, transit freight passing through Tajikistan has grown by 74%. The Ministry of Transport believes the country is gradually becoming a key transit route. Azim Ibrokhim, Minister of Transport, said at a press conference in Dushanbe that newly built roads, logistics centers, and the digitalization of transport services will accelerate this process. He noted that transit freight volume in the first half of this year reached approximately 32,700 tons, an increase of 13,900 tons compared to the same period last year.
"This shows that Tajikistan is being recognized as a transit country, and we are doing everything possible to speed up this development," Ibrokhim stated. He emphasized that to fully realize its potential, Tajikistan must not only build and reconstruct roads but also improve logistics, develop transportation services, and digitize transport operations. He acknowledged that Tajikistan currently lacks a mature logistics center. "We have warehouses, cold storage facilities, and so on, but we don’t yet have a logistics center—we also plan to increase investment in this area," the minister added.
The head of the Ministry of Transport considers digitalization one of the most important tools for driving industry development. The ministry has developed a 34-module plan aimed at covering all aspects of the transportation sector, including cargo and passenger transport, permit processing, access passes, waybills, equipment inspections, and transport service accounting. Ibrokhim explained that funding for these modules has been secured through a contract signed with South Korea’s Samsung company. The Digitalization Center of the Transportation Sector is also collaborating with South Korea’s Ministry of Transport; currently, 11 modules have been completed, 9 are under development, and 14 are in the design phase. The minister stressed that once all 34 modules are fully developed, "every aspect of the transportation sector will be digitized."
According to Ibrokhim, the digitalization initiative is being implemented based on thorough consideration of industry needs and is coordinated by the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies under the Office of the President of Tajikistan. The first phase includes introducing 42 public services in the transportation sector, aiming to streamline processes such as permit applications, transport requests, and freight and passenger management. The Ministry of Transport has already begun experiencing the benefits of digitalization, with all banks operating in the country now cooperating with the government. Key development partners include the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
For a transit country, it is crucial for transport companies to quickly access services and complete necessary procedures. This involves not only road conditions but also the speed of document processing, transport transparency, cargo inspection, and business convenience. Digital transformation should reduce bureaucracy, expedite license approvals, enhance freight transport accounting, and make transportation services more convenient. Previously, the Ministry of Transport announced that the electronic system of the Transportation Digitalization Center is now connected to the Tax Committee’s “One-Stop Service Center” and the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies. The center also operates a call center with the phone number 8808, handling applications for freight and passenger transport, permits, and access passes. The strategic goal is to achieve 100% electronic documentation of transport documents by 2030.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871017954893003/
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