On February 26, 2024, the Second Round Table on the practical implementation of the Guidelines on Mutual Recognition of Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) by the World Customs Organization in Central Asia and the South Caucasus region was held in Ashgabat

The Round Table was attended by representatives of the customs authorities of the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus, leading national and regional transport and forwarding operators, including representatives of authorized economic operators (AEO), OECD, PS IGC TRACECA, GUAM, ICRA, ICTD and other interested international organizations.

The representative of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan, ICTD Executive Secretary, Mr. Igor Rounov, and the Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA, Mr. Assavbayev A.A., addressed the participants with a welcoming speech.

The agenda included discussions on regional agreements on mutual recognition of authorized economic operators, where an exchange of views on the role of AEO in trade and transport facilitation took place among the participants.  

«It is important not only to intensify the implementation of the concept of authorized economic operators at the national level, but also to strengthen and expand mutual recognition of the AEO programme among TRACECA countries. The implementation of the AEO Provision will entail solving problems at border crossings such as delays, repeated inspections and other problematic issues. In this regard, we call on the countries to jointly develop a regional agreement on mutual recognition», said the Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA, Mr. Assavbayev A.A.

In addition, during the meeting, Ms. Sandra Corcuera, Customs and Trade Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, and Ms. Juliette Passer, representative of the ICTD for International Relations, shared their experience in using the regional agreement in Latin America, the Caribbean and South Africa. In his turn, the OECD representative, Mr. Dylan van de Ven, shared the results of the report on measures to create an enabling environment for stimulating global trade and stressed the interconnected AEO problems. The GUAM representative, Mr. Sabukhi Temirov, shared his experience of active participation in the work of the AEO and their developments in this direction. The representative of the Customs of Moldova, Ms. Tatiana Moraru, shared the work done in the framework of the preparation of the Protocol of Intent between the customs administrations of the GUAM member States on mutual recognition of AEO.

“It is important to note that the growing number of regional agreements serves as proof of the direct effectiveness of advanced digital tools, in particular, the principle of managing blockchain technology”, noted Mr. Rounov I.B.

Summing up, the participants of the Round Table emphasized the need for a multilateral recognition agreement as a way to facilitate trade conditions and the functioning of the supply chain.


For reference:

- The third and final Round Table meeting will be held in April this year as part of the Sustainable Transport Week in New York.