UNODC participates in the official handover ceremony of the specialized equipment to the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan

International Partners and donors including Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative to Central Asia, Mr. Ketil Ottersen, UNODC Senior Programme Coordinator, Mr. Norbert Steilen, WCO Senior Programme Coordinator and donor representatives joined the ceremony online.

The equipment on pre-arrival information exchange including specialized IT server, firewall and software being handed over to State Customs Service (SCS) and the Port Control Units (PCU) in Turkmenistan today is an important milestone as it is aimed at ensuring the support of the new initiative on the pre-arrival information exchange between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan which would allow better targeting suppressing high risk consignments whilst facilitating the legitimate trade.

During the opening speech Mr. Dovlet Bayryyev, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan recognized the mutual efforts of the SCS, UNODC and WCO in combatting illicit trade, stressing the positive impact of the PCUs established at the International Customs Terminal in Ashgabat and Turkmenbashi International Seaport.

“Considering their efficiency, it was agreed to establish a new PCU at “Farap Avtoyollary” checkpoint at Turkmen-Uzbek border”, said Mr. Bayryyev.

He expressed hope that the equipment transferred today will contribute to the economic development and trade facilitation in Turkmenistan and the whole region.