OREANDA-NEWS. April 06, 2016. IRU highlighted the key role of good roads and road-side infrastructure in promoting international road transport at the third meeting of the Working Group on the Creation of Model Highways in Central Asia.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, as well as by the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA, national road agencies, scientific and research institutes. Dmitry Cheltsov, who leads the IRU’s work in Eurasia, showcased how Model Highway Initiative projects already implemented by the IRU in the region, notably in Turkmenistan, contributed to better trade ties and economic connections for land-locked countries.

In separate meetings with Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Ulan Uezbaev, and the Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service, Mr Shamil Berdaliev, IRU underlined the benefits to regional integration resulting from TIR’s geographical expansion and its risk management tools. IRU also discussed how to effectively implement the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation intergovernmental agreement on road transport for further efficiency gains in the wider region.