Currently, as part of the Government’s consecutive measures aimed at further development of private sector, a comprehensive reform of the system of customs administration is underway. In particular, the new revision of the Customs Code and a number of additional measures to enhance the efficiency of customs administration are being developed.

The effectiveness of ongoing customs reform as a whole and elaboration of the new revision of Customs Code in particular, heavily depend on reflecting the opinions and concerns of business entities engaged in foreign trade activity. In this regard, it is important to maintain a constant and constructive policy dialogue between the Government, private sector and other involved parties, thus providing opportunities for the joint analysis and search for comprehensive solutions of unresolved issues. This dialogue is largely promoted by the mass media, which play a central role in building public awareness about the main directions of ongoing reform in the system of customs administration, as well as about conceptual approaches to its implementation.

In view of these, within the framework of activities of joint project of the United Nations Development Programme and State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan (SCC) entitled “Improving the System of Customs Administration in the Republic of Uzbekistan” it is envisaged to conduct training for journalists and officials of regional press services of SCC. The main objective of this training is to intensify involvement of private sector, civil society institutions and other stakeholders into policy dialogue on the ongoing customs reform by means of improving professional competence of officials of press services of customs bodies and journalists in coverage of this reform.

Experts representing the State Customs Committee, Higher Military Customs Institute, Central Customs Laboratory, as well as independent trainers conducted the training.

About 40 journalists responsible for the coverage of economic issues from every region of Uzbekistan, as well as officials of press services of regional departments of SCC were participating in the training. Participants were given the opportunity to discuss the most pressing issues with colleagues, ask questions of interest to experts and presenters, and establish partnership relations with press services of customs bodies. The training was based on the latest methods of teaching based on interactive learning and workshops.

Issues related to the international experience of customs system reformation, conceptual approaches to the customs legislation reform, customs fundamentals, country’s economic security and customs policy were covered during the training. Furthermore, the issues of introduction of modern information systems and technologies in customs administration, including “single window” mechanism, legal responsibility for customs violations, combating smuggling of goods and counteraction to “money laundering”, as well as issues of trade facilitation in Uzbekistan had been touched upon during the event.

In addition, the training participants got acquainted with the issues of application of customs regimes, tariff and non-tariff measures of foreign economic activity regulation, customs registration and declaration of goods, classification of goods in accordance with Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, determination of country of origin, customs valuation of goods and customs payments, customs and currency control and other subjects.

In the course of the training it was also envisaged to organize tours to Higher Military Customs Institute, National Center for Cynology and customs check-point “Nazarbek” with a view to familiarize participants of the training with activities of customs bodies in a more close way. At the close of the training the certificates had been issued for participants.

It should be noted that this seminar is part of a series of training programs scheduled to be carried out within the framework of the above-mentioned Project.