Belarus and Russia have reached an agreement on liberalizing the market of cabotage transportation (domestic transportation by foreign road carriers), BelTA learned from Sergei Rumas, member of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission on behalf of Belarus, in Minsk on 30 May. “There is an agreement in principle about how we are liberalizing the cabotage transportation market. As far as permits for international road carriers to and from third countries are concerned, Russia will hand over all the undistributed permits it has. The number will satisfy our needs,” said the expert. Asked about relations with Kazakhstan in this sphere, Sergei Rumas noted that it was not possible to say when exactly the system of permits for transportation to and from third countries will be annulled. BelTA reported earlier that Belarus and Russia are intent on liberalizing the market of cabotage transportation as soon as possible. For the first time in integration relations the sides have reached different-speed integration within the framework of the troika. In particular, Belarus and Russia have similar views on the market of automobile transportation and there is an understanding that the market of cabotage transportation has to be liberalized faster. The liberalization may be divided into several steps. The first one will begin on 1 January 2016 when Belarusian road carriers will get access to cabotage transportation in Russia. Kazakhstan will join Belarus and Russia as from 2025.
Written by belta.by
