New Delhi - The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Ministry of Finance, in association with the Ministry of External Affairs organised an event in New Delhi yesterday for ambassadors and delegates from Contracting Parties to the Convention on International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention, 1975) to canvass support for India’s candidature for TIR Executive Board (TIRExB), elections for which are scheduled to be held during the 81st session of the TIR Administrative Committee on 11.10.2023, at Palais des Nations, Geneva.

India’s candidate for the upcoming TIRExB elections, Mr. Vimal Kumar Srivastava, Principal Commissioner & Head of International Customs Relations, CBIC, was introduced to foreign delegations present at the reception. It was conveyed that India seeks to integrate with the international transport networks under the aegis of the Convention and recognises that cross-border connectivity has a key role in regional integration, economic growth, and geopolitical stability. It was further stated that with the election of India’s expert in the TIR Executive Board, India intends to contribute significantly to the global integration of multi-modal transport system through implementation of the related procedures and methods, especially the full digitisation of TIR. It was also highlighted that India intends to expand the geographical coverage of the Convention and leverage it for redefining the transit arrangements in the South Asia region.

The event was graced with the presence of Revenue Secretary, Shri Sanjay Malhotra; Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Sanjay Verma; Special Secretary and Chairman CBIC, Shri Sanjay Kumar Agarwal; and Special Secretary and Member Customs, CBIC, Shri Surjit Bhujabal, amongst others.

The reception concluded successfully, with many dignitaries expressing their support to India’s candidature for the TIR Executive Board elections to be held on 11.10.2023 in Geneva.