DUSHANBE, November 12, 2010, Asia-Plus -- Over the course of two days, thirty officers of Tajik State Customs Service, including trainers and lecturers of customs training establishments, representatives of carriers and customs brokers associations participated in the Supply Chain Security Training organized with the support of the EU-UNDP BOMCA assistance program in the Tajik Institute of Customs Advance Training, according to the UNDP Dushanbe Office.

Materials related to the World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate global trade (SAFE Framework) were distributed among participants prior to the course to get them acquainted with SAFE Framework requirements and be ready to discuss about the possibilities for their adoption in the local working environment.

Consultant on Trade Facilitation James Lenaghan provided opportunities for the participants to examine the ways in which the current border control procedures could be revised to meet the requirements of the WCO SAFE Framework.

The participants discussed more specifically the methodology of evaluation and processing of applications from potential authorized economic operators (AEO) with particular reference to the EU’s AEO system.

The training is complementary to the Survey of the Trade &Transit Situation in Central Asia prepared in July – August 20O9 in frame of the EU-UNDP BOMCA activities on strengthening capacities along trade and transit corridors in Central Asia.

The survey and training delivered will help to adjust the trade and transit facilitation objectives within the components of phase 8 of the EU-UNDP BOMCA assistance program.

Within the framework of the EU-UNDP BOMCA assistance program, the European Union helps foster institutional reform in border management, strengthen training capacities in Central Asia and support the improvement of infrastructure along trade and transit corridors in Central Asia.

The EU-UNDP BOMCA assistance program is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP with ICMPD as a sub-contractor.