Sinotrans, the largest integrated logistics company in China, launched a new 5,200-kilometer-long TIR route that connects the city of Shenzhen in China to Almaty, Kazakhstan. The route aims to simplify border transit procedures, reduce costs, and cut transit time, the International Road Transport Union reported on Wednesday.
A Sinotrans truck, carrying electronic products, has exited China via the Dulata-Kolzhat border crossing and is now on its way to Almaty. The opening of TIR in Shenzhen has made border transit procedures more efficient, reducing the time and money it takes to transport goods across borders.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony in Shenzhen, Tatiana Rey-Bellet, IRU Director of TIR and Transit, said, "The opening of this new route provides a direct trade lane connecting Shenzhen, China's key manufacturing and international trade hub, with the growing Central Asian market."
The new TIR route follows the activation of another China-Kazakhstan TIR route between Xi'an in China and Dostyk in Kazakhstan last month. The first transport via the Xi'an-Dostyk route was also completed by Sinotrans, with the support of IRU, local governments, and customs offices.
With these milestones, Sinotrans is planning to expand its TIR road transport business by exploring other new corridors. The company's efforts to simplify border transit procedures and reduce costs are expected to increase trade between China and Central Asian countries, further boosting economic growth in the region.
