On 17 December 2015, the BOMCA Programme facilitated the 5th meeting of the Inter-Agency Commission on Development and Implementation of the Integrated Border Management (IBM) system in the Kyrgyz Republic. The main goal of the Commission is to steer and coordinate the efforts of all agencies involved in implementation of the National IBM Strategy 2012 – 2022.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Ryskulbek Japarkulov, Head of Defence, Law Enforcement and Emergency Situations Department of the Government Office. It gathered officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Transport and Communication, the Ministry of Health, the State Committee of the  State Security, the State Border Service, and the State Services on Migration, Customs, and Drug Control. During the meeting, representatives of IBM agencies presented information about the state of play of joint implementation of the National IBM Action Plan, and clarified the current status of short- and mid-term tasks. 

Progress was particularly noted in infrastructure modernisation, human resources policy improvement, personnel training and the fight against corruption, as well as cooperation with other Central Asia countries. However, several fields of IBM activities were assessed as challenging and deserving of heightened attention. 

BOMCA presented its plans for 2016, as well as the areas contributing towards successful implementation of the National IBM Strategy 2012 – 2022. For this purpose, a set of effective instruments including technical assistance, study tours, joint practical exercises, and distance learning tools will be used in order to support beneficiary agencies in Kyrgyzstan.

The next meeting of the Commission is planned for the first half of 2016. BOMCA has been a regular member of the Commission and thus the Programme will continue to contribute to the implementation of Kyrgyzstan’s National IBM Strategy 2012 – 2022.