The European Union (EU) is continuing to offer significant support to border security and trade facilitation activities in Central Asia.

Thus, a technical assistance mission on trade facilitation started in Dushanbe on September 26, 2016 within the framework of Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA), funded by the European Union.

According to the European Union Delegation to Tajikistan, international and local experts have gathered together to discuss Tajikistan’s experience acquired during membership in WTO, current trade and customs procedures applied in the country after becoming a WTO member, its compliance with WTO trade facilitation agreement and elaborate recommendations for further measures to be applied in this direction.

This BOMCA activity reportedly aims at advisory assistance to the CA countries in assessing their trade facilitation measures. In Tajikistan case, the focus is given to support and capacity building in implementation of WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), taking into the account that participation in the WTO implies a stable and transparent legislation based on multilateral rules.

During bilateral meetings and workshops, both international and local experts will review the existing legal framework and appropriate administrative arrangements applied in Tajikistan with special focus on legislative changes made after accession to WTO.

Based on findings, discussions and exchange of views with national experts, a Comparative Analysis Report will be developed on the trade facilitation measures applied in Tajikistan and their compatibility with the WTO TFA provisions.  This document will serve as the guidelines for advancing trade facilitation actions, which would foster future economic growth and prosperity of the country, increase the attractiveness of the country for foreign investment, accelerate its integration in the world economy.

The WTO approved Tajikistan’s accession in December 2012 and named March 2, 2013 as the official entry date.  Tajikistan becomes the 159th member of the WTO and the second Central Asian country to be admitted.  Kyrgyzstan became a WTO member in 1998.

First BOMCA operations began in Central Asia in 2003, and since then, BOMCA has strengthened partnership of the Central Asia Governments in the field of border management. The European Union allocated a sum of EUR 33.6 million to BOMCA for the period of 2003 – 2014 and almost EUR 5 million for its 9th implementation phase (2015 - 2018).