The World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted a Single Window Workshop in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from 4 to 8 December 2023. The Workshop was hosted by the State Customs Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic. The WCO Single Window mission to Kyrgyzstan was facilitated with the support of the Customs Cooperation Fund of China (CCF China).
During his speech at the opening of the Workshop, the Senior Inspector of the Project Implementation and Trade Facilitation Department of the State Customs Service of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Aibek Niiazaliev, welcomed the WCO’s timely technical assistance and capacity building in the Single Window Environment. This support was coming at a time when the State Customs Service of the Kyrgyz Republic was in the process of finalizing the development of a new automated information system which would soon be rolled out.
The new information system had been developed on the principles of the Single Window, such as single submission and interoperability. Like the current information system, the new one would be interfaced with the Single Window system being implemented and promoted by the Single Window Centre under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, to allow for electronic exchange of information.
The main objective of the Workshop was to provide Kyrgyzstan Customs officials with the WCO perspective, tools and instruments, and knowledge required for implementation of a Single Window system, coupled with sharing the experiences and best practices of other countries having successfully implemented similar solutions.
Throughout the Workshop, the WCO experts showcased various WCO instruments and tools for the Single Window Environment and trade facilitation. These resources were aimed at offering participants guidance in developing streamlined operational procedures in a harmonized manner. The WCO experts also outlined the concepts of Coordinated Border Management (CBM), Single Window in the context of CBM, Single Window governance, Single Window performance management and sustainability, the WCO Data Model, and data harmonization, supported by case studies from different countries. Finally, the WCO experts gave a briefing on the newly developed Performance Measurement Mechanism (PMM) that would be used to measure Customs performance in all areas using voluntary self-assessment and peer review.
The Workshop proved to be highly effective, as the Kyrgyz Customs Single Window team derived immense value from the presentations and hands-on exercises, particularly on data harmonization and mapping, as well as from the insights gained from other Members’ experiences and best practices in Single Window system implementation.
The WCO Single Window Workshop significantly strengthened the knowledge and capacity of key Kyrgyz Customs officials to effectively implement an interoperability framework through the interface between the new automated information system and the Single Window system. This will benefit traders and government through reduced transaction costs and more efficient cross-border trade in Kyrgyzstan.