OSCE supports regional trade facilitation and border protection workshop in Kazakhstan
An OSCE-supported regional workshop on trade facilitation and border protection concluded on 25 August 2017 in Astana.
Some 60 officials of Kazakhstan’s Finance Ministry and trade representatives from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan reviewed the challenges and benefits of trade facilitation and its relationship with border protection by focusing on the simplification of customs procedures and use of information technology during the transit of goods.
Experts from the Austrian Federal Finance Ministry shared best practices on promoting trade through simplified customs clearance procedures and ensuring adequate border protection mechanisms. The participants also discussed ways to foster customs-to-business partnerships and to improve interagency co-operation both domestically and internationally.
The two-day event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in partnership with the Austrian Federal Finance Ministry, the German Federal Enterprise on Cooperation (GIZ) and the State Revenue Committee of Kazakhstan’s Finance Ministry.
The workshop is part of the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to assist the host country in promoting good governance and facilitating trade in the region.