First MTP working group activity to enhance trade facilitation and improve Customs control in Central Asia and the Caucasus

The World Customs Organization (WCO) convened the first working group (WG1) of the Master Trainer Programme (MTP) on Risk Management (RM) for Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC) Customs administrations. This was held from 30 September to 4 October 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan, under the auspices of WCO/JICA Joint Project.

Sixteen (16) Customs officers, nominated by eight Customs administrations in CAC, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, gathered for WG1. The opening of the WG1 was attended by Mr. Zhandos Duisembiyev, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Kazakhstan and Mr. Seiichi Negishi, Senior Director of Governance and Peacebuilding Department, JICA H.Q. Both of them expressed strong expectations concerning the crucial role and future activities of the MTP.

During the WG activity, the participants made country presentations to share their efforts and challenges in implementing RM. Sessions on the latest developments on RM in the WCO, case studies, exercises on risk analysis, methodologies on passenger targeting, etc., were led by WCO and Japan Customs experts. At the end of the working group activity, the participants jointly developed a collective work plan to achieve the goal of the MTP.

Looking ahead, the second WG activity is anticipated to take place in the first quarter of 2025. The participants of WG are committed to continuing their efforts, supported by experts and the Project unit, to enhance connectivity and Customs control on the Trans Caspian route / Middle Corridor and the entire Central Asia and the Caucasus.

The MTP aims to develop self-sustainable and autonomous training capacity by creating a pool of experienced trainers and developing regional training materials for these trainers to use. To achieve that objective, the nominated MTP working group participants participate in five progressive WG and intersessional activities over two or three years. Upon the completion of the MTP, the Master Trainers (MTs) are expected to deliver training programmes for Customs administrations in their respective countries and other WCO Members of their region. To date, 210 MTs in critical Customs matters have been developed; some of them are WCO-accredited Experts, making the MTs assets of the entire Customs community.

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