The International Trade Center (ITC), in collaboration with the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova, hosted a regional Peer Learning Initiative (PLI) on Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) from 30 June to 2 July 2025 in Moldova’s capital, Chisinau.  This three-day event was held under the “Ready4Trade Central Asia: Fostering Prosperity through the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor” project funded by the European Union and implemented by ITC. 

According to ITC, the event brought together customs officials, trade experts, and private sector representatives from five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — as well as from Moldova and Turkiye, to exchange experiences and align efforts in facilitating trusted trader programs.

The objective of the event was in contributing to enhancing cross-border trade efficiency, fostering regional cooperation, and supporting AEO frameworks with international best practices — ultimately facilitating the movement of goods and services along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.

The PLI program includes interactive workshops on legal frameworks, AEO validation process, digital tools (i.e. AEO dashboard), human capital development, and strategies to boost AEO membership.  Moldova’s successful implementation of an AEO program and mutual recognition agreement (MRA) with the EU is reportedly highlighted as a model of good practice.

A dedicated session with Moldovan AEO-certified companies and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry offers direct dialogue between customs authorities and businesses, enabling participants to explore challenges and benefits from the private sector perspective.

The Peer Learning Initiative builds on a regional momentum to modernize customs procedures, improve trade security, and promote mutual recognition across borders.  Through knowledge exchange and institutional dialogue, the event supports a broader vision of sustainable trade connectivity between Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

Ready4Trade Central Asia: Fostering Prosperity through the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (2024-2028), a four-year technical assistance project funded by the European Union (EU), aims to advance the EU-Central Asia connectivity agenda through increasing the operational efficiency of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and internationalization of Central Asian business.  This will be achieved through simplifying cross-border formalities to attract trade and sustainable investment; improving regional coordination to foster trade and transport connectivity; and enhancing the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to facilitate their access to regional and EU markets, including through leveraging the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. 

ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations.  It assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. 

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.  It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.