Global Container Control Programme Continues Technical Support to Port Control Units and Beneficiaries in Uzbekistan

On 16 December 2021, the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia has handed over in Tashkent, Uzbekistan the three sets of specialized TruNarc analyzers and drug and precursor test kits for the Port Control Units (PCUs) Tekhkontora Chukursay, Alat, and Yallama, as well as office and IT-equipment to the State Customs Committee (SCC) and the National Information-Analytical Center on Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NCDC) within the framework of the UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme (CCP).

In his welcoming speech, Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, CCP Regional Programme Coordinator has reiterated the CCP’s longstanding sustainable cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan, which resulted in a well-coordinated approach in technical capacity-building matters established under the Programme, and mentioned that current technical assistance is being delivered in line with the concrete priorities and needs raised by national counterparts earlier this year.

Mr. Ravshankhon Akramov, Head of International Cooperation Department of the State Customs Committee expressed his gratitude to UNODC, WCO, and donors for the ongoing technical assistance and support extended within the framework of the Programme. The SCC is cooperating with the UNODC since over twenty years, and this collaboration is seen as one of the most efficient, successful, and sustainable practices. The 38 training events, capacity-building activities, study tours, and exchange visits organized by CCP within the last two years for over 470 Customs officials were aimed at enhancing Customs controls over the goods and commodities crossing the borders.

Mr. Akramov expressed confidence that upcoming establishment of the new PCU at Ayritom Customs post as well as the Air Cargo Control Unit at "Tashkent-AERO" Specialized Customs Complex will contribute significantly to the ongoing Customs reform in the Republic of Uzbekistan. He thanked UNODC and donors for the active support extended to the SCC and expressed the Committee’s strong commitment to further the mutually beneficial cooperation and produce clear benefits from it.

In her speech, Ms. Irina Kochetkova, EXBS representative in the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent welcomed participants on behalf of the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program, highlighted the mutually beneficial and fruitful cooperation with the State Customs Committee and stressed that both the EXBS Program and the U.S. Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) being co‑donors of the CCP consider today’s handover as another concrete result of joint efforts towards preventing the smuggling of the contraband across the borders.

Following the hand-over ceremony, the UNODC ROCA jointly with the NCDC and the SCC held the regular CCP Steering Committee Meeting to discuss the overall progress of Programme implementation in Uzbekistan, outline the current priorities and needs of participating agencies within the Programme mandate, as well as to agree upon future cooperation perspectives for 2022.

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

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For all inquiries contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist 

UNODC in Central Asia 

+996775987817 WhatsApp 

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org