DUSHANBE, March 17, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament has ratified a cross-border transport agreement between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
A regular sitting of the second session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on March 16.
Delivering report on this subject, Minister of Transport Nizom Hakimov noted that the cross-border transport agreement (CBTA) between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan was signed in December 2010. The agreement will promote bilateral and regional trade. This is the first cross-border transport agreement signed under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program, the minister said.
“The main objective of this agreement is in removing artificial obstacles in the way of the movement people and goods across borders in the Central Asian region,” said Hakimov, “The document also provides for simplification of customs procedures on Tajik-Kyrgyz border.”
According to him, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed wish to provide assistance to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in implementing the agreement. Ratification of the agreement will promote trade between the two countries, increase tourist flow and promote opening of markets, the minister said.
It is to be noted that the CBTA, developed with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aims to smooth the movement of people and goods across borders in Central Asia. Obstacles to that include poorly equipped border posts; excessive and expensive documentation in customs, immigration, and quarantine; and road permit quotas that restrict competition and slow trade.
According to the ADB, these obstacles significantly bloat travel time. At border points along CAREC”s Corridor 5, which runs from China through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan, vehicles spend an average of six hours waiting to reach the checkpoint, four hours undergoing customs inspection, and two hours at police checkpoints.
The CBTA between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan was reportedly finalized following five meetings between the two countries since negotiations started in May 2009.
Under the CBTA, the two countries are expected to improve cross–border infrastructure and facilities, simplify and harmonize cross-border procedures, and ensure that all officials working at the border posts are well informed and trained.
