DUSHANBE, January 25, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Representatives of President’s Executive Office, the Lower Chamber of the Tajik Parliament, different ministries, state agencies and business associations dealing with the implementation of the EU-funded "Support to the Establishment of Single Window for Export, Import and Transit procedures" project, as well as Tajik journalists, visited Bangkok, Thailand to get acquainted with the functioning of the Thai National Single Window for export-import, press release issued by the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan said.

Initially the participants attended a capacity building workshop where interesting presentations of the Singapore, South Korean and Thai Single Window systems took place.  They were able to ask multiple questions and clarify doubts.  On the next day they were invited to visit the Thai Customs department operating the Thai National Single Window, where they received more detailed information on its establishment, functioning and the plans for its upgrade.

As a result of the Study tour organized by the EU Delegation to Tajikistan, the participants are now better aware of the advantages such systems offer and are expected to even more actively support the establishment of the SW system in Tajikistan.  The participating journalists will prepare and broadcast a short film on the Study tour.

It is expected that by end of October 2013 Tajikistan will become one of the first countries in Central Asia operating similar systems aimed at trade facilitation.  The overall funding of the Project which includes development of tailor made software, trainings of the involved staff and of the users, and supply of the necessary equipment is EUR 2 million.

The European Union, composed of 27 Member States, is the world’s biggest aid donor. Tajikistan gets the main share of bilateral assistance in the Central Asian region (€66 million for 2007-2010 and 62 million for 2011-2013) in support to sector programs, technical assistance and grants.  It focuses on social protection, health and private sector development, underpinned by public finance management.  Tajikistan also receives regional and thematic assistance in areas like border management and drug control (BOMCA/CADAP), education (TEMPUS, Erasmus Mundus), water / environment, migration, human rights and democracy (EIDHR), non-State actors (NSA) and SME development (CA-Invest).  The total value of EU assistance disbursed to Tajikistan since 1992 is over €550 million.