The Chairman of the State Customs Committee, Shahin Baghirov, has explained the importance of transitioning to the implementation of a single electronic declaration in multimodal transport.
“Elchi” reports that during the discussion of the draft law on amendments to the Customs Code at today’s meeting of the Milli Majlis Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship, the Chairman of the State Customs Committee stated that the principle of a single electronic declaration in multimodal transport is a very important step.
Shahin Baghirov noted that multimodal transport covers several modes of transport – for example, sea, rail, and road transport – and different declarations and documents are applied for each mode. This practice also exists globally: various forms of documentation are used depending on the nature, volume, and capacity of the transport. However, the requirement for additional documents when switching to another mode of transport complicates the processes. In this regard, the implementation of a single electronic declaration is of particular importance: “Eliminating the requirement for additional documents when transferring containers from one mode of transport to another will increase the speed of transit shipments, improve their quality, and simplify logistics processes. At the same time, this will increase the attractiveness of transit corridors and have a positive impact on the country’s transit potential. Ultimately, simplified procedures will contribute to the expansion of transit capabilities by 2026.”
The Chairman of the State Customs Committee pointed out that in recent years, the European Union and its neighboring countries have transitioned to a computerized transit system: “Within the framework of this system, an electronic document prepared in one country is recognized in other countries, and no additional documents are required. For example, an electronic declaration processed in Azerbaijan can be used in other countries along the route. This approach eliminates additional costs, deposit and guarantee requirements, and accelerates processes. By the same rule, documents applied to goods arriving in Azerbaijan from foreign countries can also be used as transit documents. This prevents interruptions in the logistics chain and ensures more efficient transportation of goods. Countries such as Georgia, Turkey, and Moldova have already begun to implement this system, which accelerates integration in the region. These mechanisms serve both to expand export potential and to increase transit capabilities. Azerbaijan’s geographical position and the geopolitical changes that have occurred in recent years further strengthen the country’s transit role. In this regard, the development of transport and logistics infrastructure must be carried out in parallel. Electronization and digitalization also allow for the preliminary assessment of risks in transit operations. For example, the risk level of any cargo can be determined before it enters the country. This reduces the number of physical inspections and ensures more efficient use of resources. Along with this, the expansion of infrastructure capabilities is also important. Eliminating bottlenecks at border crossings, building new border-crossing points, and modernizing existing ones are an integral part of this process. Otherwise, a mismatch may arise between digitalization and physical infrastructure.”
The Chairman of the State Customs Committee emphasized that, in general, these implemented reforms are of strategic importance in terms of digitizing, simplifying, and aligning transit shipments with international systems: “These changes will further strengthen Azerbaijan’s position as a regional logistics hub.”