Regional: Better Customs for Better Client Services in Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Countries

Industry and trade / Industry and trade sector development

Trade and smooth flow of goods and people across the CAREC region increased.

Trade from increased market access expanded.

Scoping studies with actionable recommendations in customs infrastructure, facilities, use of technology and logistics support prepared.

Initiatives in modern customs technologies and best practice supported.

3. Customs capacity improved.

October 2019: International consultants were engaged to finalize the CAREC Advanced Transit System (CATS) Agreement and its supporting Information Common Exchange (ICE) IT system, a pilot initiative between customs agencies of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.

October to November 2019: The KSTA supported the CAREC-SASEC Inter-Subregional Knowledge-Sharing Forum (31 Oct-02 Nov 2019; Tbilisi, Georgia), where customs authorities from CAREC and SASEC programs shared knowledge, experience, and best practice on challenging aspects of trade facilitation reform and modernization efforts, and identified critical success factors for effective trade facilitation measures for efficient trade flow, resource allocation, and improved regional cooperation. A study visit to the Red Bridge border-crossing point between Georgia and Azerbaijan was also organized to familiarize participants on efforts made in coordinated border management.

October to November 2019: The KSTA supported an Intersessional Meeting of the CAREC Customs Cooperation Committee (CCC) (1 Nov 2019; Tbilisi, Georgia), attended by CCC senior officials to discuss follow-up actions to last CCC Meeting and priority projects and activities for 2019-2020; discuss mechanisms to update progress in CCC priority areas and to track progress in implementing the provisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA); as well as brainstorm on how to showcase CCC achievements during the 20th anniversary of the CAREC Program in 2020.

February 2020: A short-term international consultant was engaged in February 2020 to develop a trade facilitation tacking system for the CAREC CCC, specifically in CAREC member countries' progress in fulfilling their international commitments under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.

February 2020: A videoconference was held on 10 February 2020 between the three countries participating in the CATS/ICE initiative, to update current status and progress made in finalizing the Agreement. Participating countries shared outcomes of their respective domestic consultations with relevant agencies/ministries in securing the signing of the Agreement, and highlighted that there are pending issues for discussion. As a way forward, ADB requested participating countries to further work on the Agreement and submit final comments, with a view to finalizing the Agreement before the 19th CAREC Customs Cooperation Meeting.

September 2020: The KSTA supported the CAREC Webinar on E-Commerce Paperless Trade (3 September 2020) jointly participated by Regional Trade Group (RTG) and CCC members. The webinar discussed domestic and cross-border e-commerce development in the CAREC region and the outcomes of the study, E-Commerce in the CAREC Region: Laws and Policies. Customs challenges in handling e-commerce, IT infrastructure and digital platforms, and experiences from the global initiatives of development partners such as the UNCITRAL and UNESCAP were highlighted.

The KSTA supported the 19th CAREC CCC Meeting (8 September 2020), where customs officials deliberated on (i) trade facilitation initiatives and the need for increased resilience to threats arising from the cross-border movement of people and goods; (ii) customs role in adopting paperless trade and promoting cross-border e-commerce based on the discussions from the Webinar on E-commerce and Paperless Trade; and (iii) CCC work program and inputs to the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda (CITA) 2030''s Rolling Strategic Action Plan (RSAP) 2020-2022. Afghanistan Customs chaired the meeting. Representatives from World Trade Organization, CAREC Institute, Global Express Association, and International Road Transport Union shared knowledge and inputs to the meeting.

January to March 2021: A series of knowledge-sharing modules on Regional Improvement of Border Services (RIBS) was developed. The modules aims to share experience of CAREC members in modernizing facilities and procedures at border crossing points and draw lessons for the effective implementation of coordinated border management and potential replication of RIBS projects among CAREC countries. The modules has three parts: (i) project experience; (ii) establishment of national single window; and (iii) development partners perspectives.