New steps towards cross-border cooperation in Turkmenistan are supported by UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme

10 March 2021 – The official handover ceremony of the specialized equipment to the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan under UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme took place in Ashgabat. International Partners and donors including Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative to Central Asia, Mr. Ketil Ottersen, UNODC Senior Programme Coordinator, Mr. Norbert Steilen, WCO Senior Programme Coordinator, Mr. Nick Cavellero, EXBS Program Advisor for Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, joined the ceremony online via Zoom videoconference platform.

The equipment on pre-arrival information exchange including specialized IT server, firewall and software being handed over to State Customs Service (SCS) and the Port Control Units (PCU) in Turkmenistan today is an important milestone as it is aimed at ensuring the support of the new initiative on the pre-arrival information exchange between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan which would allow better targeting suppressing high risk consignments whilst facilitating the legitimate trade.

During the opening speech Mr. Dovlet Bayryyev, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan recognized the mutual efforts of the SCS, UNODC and WCO in combatting illicit trade, stressing the positive impact of the PCUs established at the International Customs Terminal in Ashgabat and Turkmenbashi International Seaport. “Considering their efficiency, it was agreed to establish a new PCU at “Farap Avtoyollary” checkpoint at Turkmen-Uzbek border”, said Mr. Bayryyev. He expressed hope that the equipment transferred today will contribute to the economic development and trade facilitation in Turkmenistan and the whole region.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Ashita Mittal highlighted that: “Two Port Control Units (PCU) were established within CCP and are operational in Turkmenbashi International Seaport and Ashgabat International Terminal and more than 250 Turkmen Customs officers trained. I am confident that the new equipment delivered today will ensure prompt, efficient and smooth pre-arrival information exchange between Customs Administrations of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in an automatic mode and raise the efficiency of PCUs in identifying and suppressing high-risk consignments. A lot has been achieved so far and together we can achieve more”.

Mr. Ketil Ottersen expressed his satisfaction with good level of cooperation among and information exchange between PCUs in Turkmenbashi seaport, Turkmenistan and Alyat sea port Azerbaijan via ContainerComm and expressed his confidence that with the support of new equipment delivered this exchange would be more systematic, speedy and efficient.

Mr. Norbert Steilen in his turn noted that he is “pleased to participate in a unique pilot related to information exchange in the region of Central Asia and Southern Caucasus, which is very important approach and it is worth being proud of. I think you have achieved a lot in facilitating trade and being more precise on targeting illicit consignments. We will be closely monitoring the process, as we believe it is unique and important”.

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.

 

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For all inquiries, please contact:

Shakhnoza Zafari

Communication and External Relations Officer

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia

Email: shakhnoza.zafari[at]un.org

Mobile: +998935547895