The Customs Development Project has been launched in Kazakhstan

January 2009

On January 23 the Customs Development Project Launch Seminar was held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The Customs Development Project (Project) was based on Three Parties Agreement on Understanding between the Customs Administration of Kazakhstan, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World Bank (WB) that has been signed in March 2007.

The Seminar was opened by the Deputy Minister of Finance of Kazakhstan Mr. A. Smailov who made a keynote speech. He noted that the document was worked out to develop the customs service of Kazakhstan and form stable and effectively functioning customs system promoting economic development and competitiveness. The Seminar was attended by the representatives from the WB, who made presentations on the Project and ministries for economy, industry and trade, transport and communications, etc. as well as the Union of Entrepreneurs and Chamber of Commerce.

Director of Capacity Building Mr. Lars Karlsson has sent a statement congratulating on behalf of the WCO the Kazakh Government and Customs Administration for this important step forward. “The launch of the implementation phase of the Project and the potential that this Project brings for the future is a vital moment not only for Republic of Kazakhstan but also for the region and entire customs community. It also represents the pioneer partnership between the Republic of Kazakhstan, the World Bank and the World Customs Organization, a co-operation that has every opportunity to become a leading model for many other countries in the future”.