CAREC customs officials participate in workshop on single window for digital customs cooperation 

The East Asia Public Management, Financial Sector and Regional Cooperation Division (EAPF) of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) East Asia Department (EARD) organized a knowledge-sharing event on Single Window for Digital Customs Cooperation in CAREC (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation) in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 8 June to discuss country experiences in business process analysis and document standardization, which are critical for digital data exchange.

Customs officials also shared key challenges and lessons learned in implementing a national single window system and its interoperability with other systems and recognized specific areas of single window that should be prioritized for action of the CAREC CCC. Technical experts from the World Customs Organization, Korea Customs Service, and ADB shared knowledge on establishing a single window environment and shared best practices in data harmonization and cross-border data exchange.

The workshop is in alignment with the CCC Workplan for 2023-2024 and the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030.

After the workshop, the CAREC customs officials also met at the 22nd CCC Meeting on 9 to 10 June. In this meeting, the committee reviewed the implementation status and progress of ongoing trade facilitation-related projects under the CCC framework and the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030.

The Committee also considered proposals to enhance capacity of customs in implementing green trade policies, agreed on the CCC workplan for 2023 to 2024, and discussed planned regional and sub-regional studies and capacity building activities under CCC priority areas.

The meeting is in line with the 2023 World Customs Organizations’ theme of establishing a culture of learning, wherein members were requested to present specific actions and initiatives undertaken to establish a knowledge-management and knowledge sharing system, including collaborating with other stakeholders to ensure rigor in data collection and analysis. As a side event, the Georgia Revenue Service also organized a site visit to the Tbilisi Clearance Zone to discuss their procedures on commodity inspection and clearance of goods at the facility.

For more details on the event and key materials, please follow the link.