Uzbekistan seeks to join European multilateral transport permit system

On October 10, Bekzod Kholmatov, head of the Center for Transport and Logistics Development Studies, participated in a virtual meeting of the European Transport Group, held as part of the International Transport Forum (ITF). During his address, Kholmatov provided updates on Uzbekistan’s compliance with the ECMT’s quality charter requirements.

The ECMT permit system facilitates bilateral and transit road freight transportation among its 43 member countries, including Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Under this system, transporters with the necessary permits can freely move goods across member states without additional restrictions. Upon joining, Uzbekistan will benefit from simplified access to the ECMT’s extensive transport network.

The ITF, the International Road Transport Union, and several countries, including Turkey and Denmark, have expressed their support for Uzbekistan’s inclusion in the permit system. Experts from the ITF will further evaluate Uzbekistan’s compliance with the ECMT quality standards.

In early September, Uzbekistan and Bulgaria discussed expanding cooperation in freight transport. The transport ministries of both nations agreed to increase the number of reciprocal permits for road carriers by 15 times by 2025.