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Central Asian Republics to Strengthen Customs Cooperation

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (13 February 2002) - Central Asian republics have agreed to strengthen cooperation in customs procedures to facilitate trade in Central Asia.

Experts from the People's Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan discussed customs modernization and cooperation at a recent meeting hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Azerbaijan and Mongolia participated as observers. Customs cooperation is a key issue in the broad partnership between ADB and its developing member countries in Central Asia to promote economic cooperation.

The participants agreed to establish a mechanism to facilitate customs cooperation. A Customs Coordinating Committee will be set up as a decision-making body with working groups at implementation level.

Each country will submit a draft action plan and these will be consolidated for consideration at a high level Customs meeting.

Possible key initiatives to be pursued are:

• a regional seminar on the Revised Kyoto Convention, to increase awareness of customs compliance and other provisions, particularly legislative and implementation aspects;
• joint processing routines at selected border crossings;
• regional training for common approaches and mutual understanding of customs operations;
• an assessment of simplified systems to facilitate through-transit traffic; and
• a donor support meeting.

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