OSCE, Austrian Finance Ministry train Afghan,Tajik customs officers

DUSHANBE, 18 July 2012 – A week-long training course on international standards and best practices for trade facilitation for 16 mid-level and senior Afghan and Tajik customs officers concluded at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe today.

The course, co-organized by the OSCE and the Austrian Finance Ministry, focused on trade and transport facilitation, including best practices, and relevant guidelines and recommendations.

“This course aims to strengthen the management of Afghan and Tajik customs administrations. It opens an important dialogue on a common framework for customs procedures as well as on country-specific experiences and assessments in this field,” said Alexander Eliseev, Chief of Education at the OSCE Border Management Staff College.

The course participants visited nearby borders with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan and observed the existing procedures and practices of the Tajik customs service.