The Eighth Meeting of the Heads of Customs Administrations of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held on 9 June 2022, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The Meeting was hosted by H.E. Samat Isabekov, Chairman of the State Customs Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic and moderated by H.E. Baghdad Amreyev, Secretary General of the OTS.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Head of Customs Administration of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Rıza Tuna Turagay, First Deputy Chairman of State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ismayil Huseynov, Deputy Chairman of the State Revenue Committee under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Kairat Dzhumagulov, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Ilkhom Mukhtorov and Head of OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, H.E. Alexey Rogovoy attended the meeting.
Secretary General of OTS Baghdad Amreyev briefed the participants on the current efforts of the Secretariat towards the facilitation and simplification customs procedures, particularly providing uninterrupted operation of transport corridors and customs-border checkpoints with reference to the relevant instructions of the Heads of State at the 8th Summit of the OTS held on 12 November 2021 in Istanbul.
He also pointed out that the improvement of the infrastructure of land border crossing points to international standards under the “Caravanserai Project”, (digital customs) the automation and digitalization of customs processes and establishment of common online system for transit procedures through the joint efforts of the Member States of OTS would accelerate the cross-border trade and increase the competitiveness of the Trans-Caspian International East-West Middle Corridor.
The Heads of Delegations of the OTS Member States in their statements emphasized the necessity of continuation of joint activities on regional integration through simplification, modernization, standardization and harmonization of customs procedures, further application of digital tools in customs, sharing best practices and conducting capacity building programs.
As the main outcome of the meeting was the adoption of the final version of the “Agreement on Establishment of Simplified Customs Corridor among the Governments of Organization of Turkic States”, that scheduled to be sign by Governments of the OTS Member States in September 2022 in Istanbul.
The Parties also decided the completion of following issues, such as further implementation of the “Caravanserai Project”; the schedule of trainings and capacity building programs for 2022-2023, utilization of additional measures for facilitation of transport and transit procedures in the OTS Member States through applying the modern digital tools («e-TIR», «e-Permit» and «e-CMR») and organization of joint programs in collaboration with the relevant international organizations; The OTS Modern Silk Road Trade Caravan Demonstration Tour.
