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 evaluation of the CAREC program. CWRD DDG Xiaohong Yang welcomed the strong commitment of CAREC members and underscored the need diversify and promote trade resilience through investment and policy reforms and modernization of customs and border facilities and processes. EAPF Director Emma Fan highlighted the progress of CITA in its first 5 years including investment projects to facilitate trade, strengthening institutions and partnerships, and expanding knowledge. CWRC Director Lyaziza Sabyrova identified further work to integrate CAREC countries into the global markets and make trade sustainable.
Over 30 CCC and RTG members attended the meeting, hosted by Georgia Revenue Service DDG Vladimer Khundadze who emphasized trade as the cornerstone of economic development and CAREC as an important regional cooperation platform. The event was organized by ADB’s EAPF and co-chaired by Georgia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and Ministry of Finance’s Georgia Revenue Service.
Supported under KSTA 9712: Implementing the Integrated Trade Agenda in the CAREC Program, co-funded by the Regional Cooperation and Integration Fund and the PRC Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund (PRCF).
Key Documents
Trade Sector Report 2022-2023 (English, Russian, Chinese)
Rolling Strategic Action Plan 2023-2025 (to be uploaded)
Session 1: Progress of Modernization under the Customs and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures Initiatives (English, Russian)
Session 2: Session 2: CITA 2030’s Rolling Strategic Action Plan (RSAP) (English, Russian)
Session 3: Proposed Initiatives in Developing Capacity for a Potential CAREC-wide Free Trade Agreement (FTA) (English, Russian)
Session 4: Midterm Review of the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda (CITA) 2030 (English, Russian)