亚开行-深化边境口岸贸易和运输便利化政策分析_拓展中亚区域经济合作走廊绩效评估与监测框架（英）-2025.7_124页_3mb

Deepening Trade and Transport Facilitation: Analysis of Border Crossing Points in CAREC Region

Key Findings

• Regional Overview: The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) region (11 countries) faces challenges in leveraging its natural resources and trade potential due to limited economic diversification, underdeveloped infrastructure, and high trade costs.
• Trade Infrastructure: CAREC investments focus heavily on transport (67.4%), with Kazakhstan leading in infrastructure development. The region relies on primary commodity exports, restricting its trade competitiveness.
• Border Crossing Points (BCPs): Six major BCPs (Kirmizi Korpu, Tsiteli Khidi, Serhetabat, Farap, Torkham, Yallama) were assessed using the Cross-Border Trade and Transport Facilitation Index (CBTTFI), which evaluates customs procedures, coordination, support facilities, and transport regulations.
• Performance:
  • Yallama (Uzbekistan): Highest overall score (77%), excelling in customs procedures and transport regulations.
  • Torkham (Pakistan): Strong performance in customs coordination (88%), highlighting effective bilateral coordination with neighboring Afghanistan.
  • Kirmizi Korpu (Azerbaijan): High customs clearance efficiency (79%) but faces transit facility inefficiencies.
  • Serhetabat and Farap (Turkmenistan): Top in transport regulations due to harmonized restrictions, but limited digital infrastructure usage.

Key Recommendations

1. Digitalization and ICT Infrastructure:

   • Implement national single windows for integrated trade documentation.
   • Enhance electronic customs processing (e.g., e-CMR, e-TIR) to reduce paperwork.
   • Strengthen ICT in ports and model dry ports for digital connectivity.

2. Customs Coordination:

   • Promote interoperability between customs systems to streamline joint control operations.
   • Expand mutual recognition of AEO certifications and electronic data exchange protocols.

3. Transit Support Logistics:

   • Develop cold storage facilities for perishable goods exports.
   • Establish product testing labs and inspect ion centers at key BCPs.
   • Optimize BCP capacity through dedicated logistics hubs.

4. Standardization of Transport Regulations:

   • Harmonize bilateral weight/dimension limits for vehicles to improve transit efficiency.
   • Convene technical standards harmonization within neighboring BCP pairs.

5. Risk Management Enhancement:

   • Prioritize advance notice systems for inspection requirements to optimize queue management.
   • Ensure clear digital procedures to minimize discretionary inspections.

Way Forward for CBTTFI and Policymaking

• Refine Questionnaire: Expand to cover implementation levels and port/rail BCPs.
• Data Integration: Harmonize bilateral data accuracy to improve bottleneck diagnosis.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Ensure inclusive participation for capturing diverse operational dynamics.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that substantial progress can be made by focusing on digitalization, risk-based customs coordination, and transit infrastructure harmonization. These recommendations align with CAREC 2030 objectives to foster regional connectivity and trade competitiveness, addressing the core barriers of inefficiency and regulatory fragmentation at BCPs.