Iraq Customs Receives First International Transit Shipment Using Iraqi TIR Carnet from Turkey to UAE
The General Commission for Customs announced on Friday that it had received the first international transit shipment operating under an Iraqi TIR carnet as part of the International Road Transport (TIR) system. The shipment departed from Turkey and is heading to the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant step in strengthening Iraq’s role in regional and international trade and transportation.
In a statement, the commission said the shipment was transported aboard an Iraqi truck carrying an Iraqi TIR carnet. It noted that the development represents an important milestone in expanding the presence of Iraqi transport operators in international logistics and increasing their participation in cross-border freight operations.
The commission explained that the achievement resulted from coordination between the General Commission for Customs, through its Transit Division, the Kurdistan Region’s customs authorities, the Turkish side, and the International Road Transport Union (IRU). The cooperation aims to facilitate the movement of transit goods and improve cross-border transportation in line with international standards and agreements.
Director General of the General Commission for Customs, Thamer Qasim Dawood, described the development as a strategic step toward advancing Iraq’s transit sector and strengthening the country’s position as a commercial corridor linking regional and international markets. He added that operating an Iraqi truck under a national TIR carnet creates new opportunities for domestic transport companies to compete in regional markets.
Dawood further stated that the commission would continue to modernize customs procedures, simplify transit operations, and enhance coordination with national institutions and international organizations. These efforts are intended to reduce transit times and operating costs, improve supply chain efficiency, support economic activity, and increase non-oil revenues.
He concluded that the achievement marks a new phase in Iraq’s integration into the international transportation system and reinforces its position as a strategic link between countries, in line with government plans to boost transit trade and develop the country’s economic and logistics infrastructure.
