BSEC-URTA Welcomes the Launch of the Digital CEMT System
The long-awaited digital transformation of international road transport has taken a major step forward with the introduction of the Digital CEMT system. The sector has been anticipating progress on e-TIR, e-CMR, driver visa digitalization, extended visa stay durations, and other technological advancements that will facilitate cross-border road transport operations.
Thanks to the dedicated work of the International Transport Forum (ITF), the industry is now on the verge of a comprehensive digital shift. After the intensive efforts, ITF has delivered a facilitation instrument that will eliminate paper-based permits and provide a more secure, efficient, and user-friendly digital tool for transport operators.
BSEC-URTA Deputy Secretary General Alpdogan Kahraman and BSEC-URTA member, Mr. Aleksander Spasić, Secretary General of PUMEDTRANS, attended the launch event organized by ITF at the OECD premises in Paris. They joined sector representatives to celebrate this milestone and share the vision of the international road transport community.
Key Messages Shared by BSEC-URTA
During his address and panel intervention, Alpdogan Kahraman emphasized:
“Any form of facilitation and digitalization has long been expected in the international road transport sector. As we enter the first year of Digital CEMT implementation, we kindly ask all member countries to approach transport operators and drivers with understanding. Our sector urgently needs further digitalization. We urge member countries to regard digitalization as a facilitation tool, not a punitive one, as logistics is the lifeline of foreign trade. BSEC-URTA will closely monitor the impact of Digital CEMT on facilitation, economic activity, and social life. This is a long-awaited step toward digital facilitation — and if implemented correctly, it will make a significant difference.”
Mr. Aleksander Spasić also provided valuable insights on the Digital CEMT system and drew attention to the ongoing challenges related to limited stay durations granted to non-EU drivers within the Schengen Area—an issue of growing concern for the industry.
Highlights from the BSEC Perspective on Digital CEMT
• Azerbaijan, serving as the current ITF Presidency, has played an important role in supporting this achievement. Thank you, Azerbaijan.
• The technological solution partner behind the Digital CEMT platform is Alfasoft from Moldova. Thank you, Moldova.
• Special thanks are extended to Member Countries, to the ITF Secretary General Dr. Young Tae KIM and his team, for realizing this long-awaited facilitation and digitalization initiative for one of the most essential instruments in international road transport.
