Past Events

Regional Workshop in Enhancing and Accelerating the Implementation of the AEO Program in Central Asia

The Regional Workshop in Enhancing and Accelerating the Implementation of the AEO Program in Central Asia was held on 31 October – 1 November 2023 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It was attended by representatives from the customs authorities of the CAREC countries, AEO experts from Korea Customs Service, Indonesia Customs, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of […]

Facilitation of Regional Transit Trade in Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation: Testing Phase of CATS and ICE

On 3rd October, high-level customs officials from selected CAREC countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Baku to implement pilot testing activities of the CAREC Advanced Transit System and Information Common Exchange that will simplify transit documentation and procedures and promote intra-regional trade among these CAREC countries. Shahin Baghirov, Chairman of the State Customs […]

Accession of Turkmenistan to the World Trade Organization: Technical Working Sessions on the Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime

On 2-6 October, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) organized technical working sessions on policies affecting trade in goods, which form part of the Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) – a key document for WTO accession negotiations. The activity builds on the series of capacity building on Turkmenistan’s accession […]

Virtual Regional Workshop on Authorised Economic Operators Program

TA 9824: Better Customs for Better Client Services in Central Asia, a project under the Asian Development Bank, aims to foster inclusive economic growth and support the readiness of Central Asian countries to comply with existing international trade facilitation commitments such as the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program and new or evolving requirements. The technical workshop […]

CAREC Conference on Electronic Phytosanitary Certificates

On 11-12 September 2023, the Asian Development Bank co-organized the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Conference on Electronic Phytosanitary Certificates in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with the Agency of Plant Protection and Quarantine (APPQ) of Uzbekistan, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Trade Central Asia (TCA) activity and German Development Cooperation (GIZ). Over 70 participants from […]

Capacity Building on Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records

The Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR), developed by United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), aims to address a key roadblock in the transition to paperless trade: the lack of recognition of electronic transferable records (ETRs), such as e-bills of exchange, e-bills of lading, e-promissory notes, and e-warehouse receipts, in domestic legal […]

Accession of Turkmenistan to the World Trade Organization: Technical Working Sessions on the Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime

On 3-14 July 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) organized technical working sessions on the Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) – a key document for WTO accession negotiations. Building on the Roundtable and Donor Engagement to Support Turkmenistan’s Accession to the World Trade Organization held on 30 May […]

World Export Development Forum 2023 Session: Landlocked Developing Country Business Talks

On 26 June 2023, landlocked developing countries (LLDCs)’ businesses and government representatives discussed specific needs, aspirations, and the unique challenges they face at the Landlocked Developing Country Business Talks held in the framework of the World Export Development Forum (WEDF) 2023 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Central Asia Regional Economic […]

Regional Trade Group (RTG) – Customs Cooperation Committee (CCC) Joint Meeting

On 12 June, the Regional Trade Group (RTG) and Customs Cooperation Committee (CCC) jointly reviewed the progress of the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030 and endorsed the rolling strategic action plan 2023–2025. The meeting also deliberated on the scope and timeline of the midterm review of CITA 2030, leveraging the outcomes of the IED thematic […]

22nd Meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Customs Cooperation Committee (CCC)

At the 22nd CAREC Customs Cooperation Committee (CCC) Meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia held on 9-10 June, customs officials reaffirmed their commitment to promote customs digitalization and green customs initiatives. World Customs Organization Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya delivered a keynote address on establishing a culture of learning and a knowledge-management and knowledge-sharing system. In his welcome […]