Moldova seeks to attract more freight to TRACECA corridor and proposes facilities for carriers

The Republic of Moldova aims to strengthen its role as a logistics hub between Eastern and Western markets and attract a larger share of international freight flows. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea and TRACECA Secretary General Jasurbek Choriev discussed the issue.

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, the officials discussed TRACECA priorities and the concept of the organization’s Strategy for 2027–2036. The document is expected to focus on the development of transport corridors, the harmonization of standards, the digitalization of documents, multimodal transport, and the involvement of the private sector in identifying problems along international routes.

In this context, Jasurbek Choriev invited the Republic of Moldova to appoint private-sector representatives to the new TRACECA Business Council. The body is expected to bring the problems faced by carriers to the attention of participating states and contribute to identifying common solutions.

Vladimir Bolea said that the Republic of Moldova is developing its railway, road, port, and airport infrastructure to strengthen its position as a logistics hub between East and West. According to the minister, Chișinău also advocates aligning TRACECA mechanisms with European Union standards and systems, particularly in the areas of documentation, digitalization, and information exchange.

The official emphasized that changes in trade routes resulting from the war in Ukraine have created new opportunities for the TRACECA corridor, but also additional transport costs. In this context, Vladimir Bolea proposed analyzing preferential tariffs for carriers from TRACECA countries so that the use of the corridor generates concrete economic benefits.

Another topic discussed was the introduction of the TRACECA Single Transit Permit, a document that would replace national permits and be valid along the entire route, from the point of departure to the destination. Five TRACECA countries—Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan—signed the agreement on this permit in May 2026, while the other participating states are carrying out the necessary internal procedures to join.

The discussions also focused on expanding the corridor by attracting new strategic partners, particularly China and Pakistan, to develop logistics connections between Europe and Asia.

At the end of the meeting, the TRACECA Secretary General invited Vladimir Bolea to the organization’s extraordinary meeting, scheduled for November 27 in Baku, where TRACECA’s reforms and strategic development directions are to be examined.

TRACECA is a cooperation program aimed at developing trade and transport connections between Europe, the Black Sea region, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The organization brings together 14 member states of the Multilateral Basic Agreement, including the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Türkiye, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Central Asian countries.