(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, ATCUAE, yesterday signed an agreement with Umm Al Qaiwain Customs which will effectively lead to a major boost for trade and transport links between the Emirates and neighbouring countries.
With Sharjah Customs expected to sign within the next few days, six out of the seven emirates have now formally joined forces with the ATCUAE to work together to introduce a global transit system which dramatically accelerates the movement of goods across borders.
The International Road Transport, TIR, System, which significantly reduces the time that trucks spend at customs controls, is now expected to become operational at the UAE's frontiers by the end of this year.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the ATCUAE, signed the agreement with Sultan Saeed Sultan Al Ali, Executive Director Port, Customs and Free Zone of Umm Al Qaiwain Customs in the presence of Umberto de Pretto, Secretary-General, International Road Transport Union, IRU.
Sulayem and de Pretto later met with Dr. Abdullah Belhaif al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works and Chairman of the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport, as the two-day International Road Transport Union workshop headed towards conclusion in Dubai.
"The implementation of the TIR is the way to go for all transport industries globally as it makes everything so much easier and secure," said Sulayem, adding, "Trucks used to lie on the borders for several days but with the TIR system rapidly accelerating the movement of goods by road, both the transportation costs and price of goods for the consumer have been reduced."
Umberto de Pretto said, "Workshops like this are extremely significant on a global scale. The UAE plays a major leadership role in trade and the past fathers had a vision that we could build a trade hub here in the emirates and it has certainly worked.
"However, it is not enough just to build the infrastructure because you have to put in place all of the procedures to really expand the trade. TIR offers this opportunity within the Emirates, Gulf region and around the world".
The customs authorities in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman and Fujairah had each previously signed TIR agreements with the ATCUAE.
The introduction of the TIR system is seen as a big step forward for the transport industry overall, and one that will be warmly welcomed by a huge range of goods manufacturers and suppliers, by customers, as well as each of the UAE's customs authorities.
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