OBJECTIVES

The advancement of transport cooperation between our Member States has always been a top priority for the Organization of Turkic States, as our Heads of State have consistently emphasized the importance of this issue at our Summits and have given instructions to improve transportation cooperation by addressing existing challenges.

We are committed to enhancing transport connectivity in the Turkic region, particularly along the Trans-Caspian International East-West Middle Corridor (Middle Corridor). This initiative aims to eliminate barriers to efficient and seamless transport, while establishing new frameworks to streamline transport operations across various modes—road, rail, and sea.

MECHANICS

Through various mechanisms – such as regular Ministerial Meetings, Transport Coordination Committee, Working Group on Transport Development and Sub-Working Group on Digitalization – the OTS is driving transport cooperation in line with the key strategic documents "Turkic World Vision - 2040" and the "OTS Strategy for 2022-2026".

• Sister Ports

Initiated in 2013 with the signing of the "MoU on Sister Ports Relation and Cooperation", the Sister Ports Process aims to strengthen collaboration between sea and dry ports across the OTS Member States. Originally involving the ports of Baku (Azerbaijan), Samsun (Türkiye), and Aktau (Kazakhstan), the initiative expanded in 2019 to include Kazakhstan's Kuryk Port. In 2021, Türkiye's Mersin Port, along with Uzbekistan's dry ports – Universal Logistics Services, Akhtachi, and Termez Cargo Center – joined the process. This initiative fosters technical exchanges, knowledge sharing, and the development of joint projects to enhance inter-port cooperation within the region.

• Heads of Railway Administrations Meetings

The OTS has been facilitating collaboration among Member States' railway sectors by organizing the meetings of Heads of Railway Administrations since 2022. These meetings focus on exploring the potential for developing alternative, cost-effective international railway corridors and formulating strategies to boost cargo transportation across the region. A key milestone was the launch of the first Türkiye-Uzbekistan freight train in December 2022, carrying 40 wagons of goods, as part of the implementation of decisions taken during these railway cooperation meetings.

International events such as the "Railway Connectivity of the Turkic States: Fergana Valley – Anadolu" Forum in Fergana (2023) and the International Multimodal Transport Forum in Istanbul (2023) gathered key figures from the public and private sectors, including top transport and logistics companies, businesses, and stakeholders from across the Turkic region. These forums provided valuable opportunities for in-depth discussions, knowledge sharing, and collaboration, all aimed at advancing the development of multimodal transport routes within the OTS framework.

• Alliance of Logistics Centers and Cargo Carriers

Established in 2024 under the aegis of the OTS, the Alliance of Logistics Centers and Cargo Carriers aims to connect logistics centers, carriers, terminals, and ports across Turkic countries. Its objectives include improving transport infrastructure, enhancing cooperation, and promoting public-private partnerships for innovative and efficient freight solutions.

• Meetings of Heads of National Transport Associations

In March 2024, OTS held an inaugural meeting of Heads of National Transport Associations. A significant outcome was the decision to create the Union of Road Transport Associations of the OTS (OTS-URTA). The Union seeks to represent the private sector, enhance cooperation, and strengthen transport capabilities in line with the "Turkic World Vision - 2040".

FRAMEWORK

The legal foundation for transport cooperation within the OTS is built on several key documents:

1. “Agreement on International Combined Freight Transport among the Governments of the Member States of the Organization of Turkic States" signed on 11 November 2022 in Samarkand;
2. “Transport Connectivity Program of the Organization of Turkic States” signed on 11 November 2022 in Samarkand;
3. “Joint Action Plan ("Roadmap") on the Implementation of the Transport Connectivity Program of the Organization of Turkic States for 2023-2027” adopted on 3 November 2023 in Astana;
4. “Memorandum of Understanding among the Member States of the Organization of Turkic States Regarding Cooperation and Use of Electronic Permit (e-Permit) in International Road Transport Operations” signed on 6 July 2024 in Shusha.

PROJECTS

• The OTS is spearheading several practical projects aimed at removing barriers to transport and ensuring efficient, stable, and seamless operations.

• E-Permit
• The OTS is advancing the implementation of the Electronic Permit (e-Permit) project in international road transport among its Member and Observer States. This project aims to streamline transport operations through digitalization, reduce costs associated with physical permits, and eliminate issues such as the loss or misuse of permits.
• Türkiye and Uzbekistan pioneered the e-Permit project at the 6th Meeting of OTS Transport Ministers on 28 October 2022 in Tashkent, becoming the first globally to implement this system. Efforts are now underway to extend this initiative to other OTS countries.
• During the Shusha Summit held on 6 July 2024, the OTS Transport Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and the Use of e-Permits in International Road Transport. The MoU establishes the "Application Principles of e-Permits" and sets the framework for transitioning permit data into an electronic format, preserving the structure of physical permits, and enabling data exchange through a unified system with standardized software.

• E-CMR
• The OTS is advancing the implementation of "eCMR" in the Turkic region. In February 2023, OTS, in collaboration with the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), held a virtual workshop on the UN CMR Convention and its e-CMR Protocol.
• At the Second Transport Coordination Committee Meeting on 25 April 2024 in Budapest, OTS Member States supported the eCMR project and decided to form an ad-hoc Sub-Working Group. This group, including experts from transport ministries, customs administrations, and national transport associations, will focus on the legal assessment and operationalization of eCMR in the Turkic region.