Commissioner of Customs, Nhava Sheva Mumbai Flags off First Intermodal Digital TIR Pilot Transport from India to Iran in INSTC Corridor

Sep 06, 2022

MUMBAI, 06 September 2022: Mr DS Garbyal, Commissioner of Customs, Nhava Sheva, Mumbai yesterday flagged off the first Intermodal Digital TIR Pilot Transport between India and Iran which facilitates seamless and paperless cross-border transit of goods, under the customs guarantee of the TIR system.

The TIR system is an international road transport system which plays an important role in facilitating cross border trade flow, adding considerable value to improving regional trade mechanisms. Globally, the TIR system has been a successful model for reducing trade transaction costs and facilitating higher growth of intra-regional and inter-regional trade. 

Originally designed as a paper-based solution, the TIR system now offers fully digital capacities, making international freight transits even faster, more efficient and more secure.  Indian Customs Administration is actively working towards full implementation of digital TIR system in the country.

India acceded to the United Nations TIR Convention - the Customs Convention on June 15, 2017, the global customs transit system that enables movement of goods between countries affiliated to the TIR Convention, a 1975 UN -ratified agreement allowing for duty-free movement of freight across nations. It is overseen by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and managed by the International Road Transport Union (IRU), Geneva. TIR stands for 'Transports Internationaux Routiers' or International Road Transports. 

The convention allows goods to be outlined in a TIR carnet and sealed in load compartments. Customs verify the carnet and check the seals, with no need for physical checking of the contents, enabling shipments to pass through countries without being opened at borders.   FICCI has been appointed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India as National Issuing & Guaranteeing Association for its operation in India like ATA carnet.

TIR helps in facilitation of trade and transport, preventing delays in border crossing operations by minimizing the formalities which decreases the transportation costs, facilitating the border crossing operations with the use of standard documents and unified controls, which encourages the development of international trade. This system provides many advantages and benefits to the national economy by simplifying the movement of national and international transport, giving access to over 64 TIR operational countries.