The “6th International Forum on the Role of Customs administrations on promoting and facilitating Trade among Silk Road Countries” was held on 14-15 November 2013 in Gabala. The forum brings together customs officials from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Italy, Moldova, Serbia and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of international organizations, including the Asian Development Bank, World Customs Organization, International Road Transport Union, Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States and International Network of Customs Universities.
Chairman of the Azerbaijani Customs Union Aydin Aliyev, Turkish Minister of Customs and Trade Hayati Yazici, Deputy Secretary General of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States Gismat Gozalov made opening speeches at the event.
The forum aims to facilitate border crossing procedures, carry out exchange of experience on transit systems in Silk Road countries and customs-business cooperation.
The Conference was organised under the four sessions: “Facilitation of the customs procedures and the border crossing points under Silk Road initiative”, “Transit systems in “Silk Road” countries”, “Sharing experience on customs to business partnership”, “SAFE standards of the World Customs Organisation (integrated Border Management)”
Deputy Secretary General Gismat Gozalov informed the participants about activities of the Turkic Council and projects implemented in the framework of organisation. He also underlined that without being supported by modern, electronic based, streamlined customs procedures, transport projects cannot bring the expected outcomes, which is effective, seamless and sustainable transport for boosting economic activity among the regional countries. For this reason as a young organization aiming to serve as a tool of cooperation in Central Asia and Caucasus, Turkic Council stands ready to make its contribution to the Modern Silk Road as a new regional partner.
