The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recommends the digitalization of the Red Bridge customs checkpoint and strengthening of coordination, APA-Economics reports.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recommended a series of structural improvements to enhance the efficiency of the Kirmizi Korpu border crossing point between Azerbaijan and Georgia.
According to ADB’s July 2025 report titled “Deepening Trade and Transport Facilitation Policy Analysis of Border Crossing Points”, the Kirmizi Korpu scored 79% in customs procedures and formalities, 77% in customs coordination, and 64% in cross-border support facilities. However, it received 0% in transport regulations, mainly due to existing weight and dimension limitations for cargo vehicles.
The report highlights that while the border point benefits from electronic processing of key customs documents and established ICT infrastructure, certain inefficiencies remain. These include the mandatory physical submission of original documents such as passports, driver licenses, and insurance papers, limited provisions for digital customs refund applications, and the absence of electronic queue management and advance fee payment systems.
To address these gaps, the ADB has issued specific recommendations for the Kirmizi Korpu BCP:
Ensure full digitalization of customs procedures, including implementation of the e-CMR system;
Enable digital payments and online customs refund applications;
Establish mutual recognition of documents and synchronized clearance procedures with the Georgian side;
Limit the discretionary powers of customs officials and rely more on risk-based inspection algorithms;
Develop cold storage warehouses, product testing labs, and expand truck inspection lanes near the BCP;
Harmonize transport standards, especially regarding vehicle weight and dimension regulations.
The ADB emphasizes that these reforms are essential for lowering trade costs, enhancing customs transparency, and boosting regional connectivity under the CAREC framework.
