Kurdistan Region and Iraqi transport officials have met in Erbil to finalize the unification of electronic manifests and vehicle travel cards, a joint initiative aimed at streamlining data exchange and curbing illegal transport operations across provincial borders.

According to a Ministry of Transportation statement, Minister Wahab al-Hasani and Ahmed al-Mousawi, the Director General of the General Company for Private Transportation Management, a state-run enterprise under the ministry, visited the Kurdistan Region on Friday.

During the visit, the Iraqi officials met with Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Transportation and Communications, Ano Jawhar.

New Mechanisms Set to Streamline Regional Transport Data 

The two parties discussed several mechanisms to implement synchronized vehicle transit systems between federal and regional terminals.

The ministry noted that the primary focus involves finalizing procedures to integrate vehicle travel cards, which previously received cabinet approval, alongside syncing the electronic manifest system across the governorates.

“This aims to ensure a smooth exchange of data and organize transport operations under unified mechanisms,” the statement stressed.

Measures Aim to Boost State Revenues and Upgrade Public Services 

Officials emphasized that executing these measures in the coming period will strengthen KRG-federal integration, regulate transit, and eliminate illegal transport operations.

The initiative's objectives are “to maximize the financial revenues of the General Company for Private Transportation Management, aligning with the state's orientation to develop the transport sector and elevate the level of services provided to citizens.”

Baghdad and Erbil Advance Customs Integration 

Alongside the new transit discussions between both governments, Erbil and Baghdad have engaged in extensive talks regarding unified customs in recent months. 

Following technical preparations, a formal recommendation package for implementing the ASYCUDA electronic system across the Kurdistan Region has been submitted to the Iraqi Council of Ministers. 

Implementation of the ASYCUDA would enable the federal government, through centralized servers, to monitor cargo movement and customs revenue in real time.

The proposal mandates a joint federal-KRG committee to evaluate all regional border lines within 30 days and use the Border Guards Command to close all unofficial or non-compliant crossings.