Global Container Control Programme conducts Online Workshop on Strategic Trade and Export Control for the officers of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan

From 26 to 28 May 2020, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Central Asia conducted a three day online national workshop on Strategic Trade and Export Control for the officers from the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan (SCST), Port Control Units’ (PCU) members under the UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme (CCP).

This workshop is part of the series of CCP distance learning activities for Turkmenistan scheduled for 2020 and aimed to raise awareness, strengthen the knowledge and skills of the officers from SCST in strategic trade and export control as well as use of modern Customs control techniques.

During the opening of the training, Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan for hosting the event in an online mode at the Customs Headquarters in Ashgabat and Turkmenbashi International Seaport. He further stressed that due to the spread of the COVID-19 infection in the world, CCP worked out adapting its training strategy to the current situation by organizing: (1) eLearning modules, (2) online theoretical training and (3) remote mentorship to prevent the use of the cargo supply chain by organized criminal groups for illegal purposes and to ensure the continuity of the programme implementation.

With the support of UNODC experienced trainers, Turkmen participants enhanced their knowledge in such topics as Strategic Trade Controls, relevant United Nations Security Council Resolution and its implementation, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Sanctions and Embargoes and improved their skills in Risk Indicators and Fraud Patterns.

The CCP Regional Segment for Central Asia is funded by the Government of Japan and the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Programme.