The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is undertaking a pilot project to create digital transport corridors. All this to further restrict the import of „sankcionki”, i.e. goods covered by the embargo.
The project of digital transport corridors assumes tracking the goods from the moment of their entry into the EAEU area until unloading. Initially, it concerned only Russia and Kazakhstan, but Belarus has recently expressed interest in participating. In this way, goods covered by the embargo transported to Kazakhstan via Russia, will not be unloaded illegally in the Federation.
Digital mechanisms will help reduce supplies of banned goods to the territory of the Russian Federation. Later we will apply this practice in relation to all goods,” said Sergey Szuchno, director of the development department at the Eurasian Economic Commission.
Digital corridors – plans and tests
The Eurasian Economic Commission has already commissioned the preparation of a digital corridor system. According to experts, its creation will also serve to develop the common market of the Eurasian Union – building transport potential of the region, improve control and supervisory functions in transport, reduce administrative barriers, accelerate return on investment in infrastructure projects, etc. The College of the Commission is working on the legal side of the undertaking and organizes a pilot project on the labeling of tobacco and tobacco products based on the EAEU digital goods platform. The initiative is to be implemented by 31 March 2019.
One of the main tasks of the pilot project is to determine how the construction of the cargo tracking architecture should take place. At this stage, it is known that the authorities of Kazakhstan and Russia will benefit from the services of national operators of vehicle monitoring and tracking systems. The vehicles will most likely be fitted with special navigational seals, which will be combined with a system to monitor vehicles in real time. Seals at the same time are to provide additional protection against the theft of cargo – an attempt to open the trailer before the scheduled unloading date will result in an alarm.
Editor’s comment
For a very long time, Russia has been planning to monitor all cargoes that are transported on its territory. Most likely, Platon toll payment system operator, which is already tracking tractors, will be involved. Officially, it is about security, but it is known that the authorities in Moscow want more budget revenues (e.g. by imposing fines on those who avoid tolls or transport goods that are subject to embargoes). In addition, the government would gain additional information about carriers, forwarders, and companies ordering cargo.
It is a pity that advanced technology is to serve the rulers to seal the embargo, not business development. In the end, Russia has a large transport potential and instead of investing in transport, as Ukraine does, the authorities prefer to impose further restrictions on carriers and drivers.
Photo: Trans.INFO