The Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan said the E-Permit system had been successfully introduced jointly with Georgia. The new system is expected to speed up the processing and issuance of transport permits, make the process more transparent and create more favorable conditions for national carriers.
Under the new arrangement, paper permits for bilateral and transit freight transport, as well as shipments to and from third countries, will no longer be distributed. Carriers will instead receive the necessary permits electronically.
The ministry said the digitalization of the process would reduce delays and administrative procedures, cut reliance on paper documents and limit the human factor in issuing permits.
A memorandum of cooperation on the introduction of the E-Permit system was signed during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to Georgia in early July. The two countries also signed an agreement on administrative assistance in customs matters during the visit.
Transport Minister Ilhom Mahkamov later announced in an interview with Uzbekistan 24 that Uzbekistan and Georgia planned to move fully to electronic exchanges of road transport permits, including for shipments involving third countries.
According to Mahkamov, more than 60% of Uzbek road carriers currently transport goods through Georgia. In addition to facilitating their operations, the two sides have agreed to expand discounts on rail freight transport and establish logistics infrastructure at Georgian seaports through a consortium of freight-forwarding companies.
