From April 26-28, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia organised a technical assistance mission and a roundtable in Bishkek to introduce cooperation models between government institutions and business associations in Kyrgyzstan. The assistance targeted Kyrgyz national professionals from the Customs Service; Ministry of Economy and Commerce; Veterinary and Phyto-Sanitary Security Service; and the Department of Chemicalisation, Plant Protection and Quarantine, under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic and business and trade associations.

As a result of the mission, representatives of customs and government institutions and business associations deepened their understanding of possible cooperation models between government institutions and business associations, as well as having advanced dialogue on how to improve existing cooperation at national level.

The European expert team from the National Customs Board of the State Revenue Service of Latvia mapped several areas for improvement, and to this end, will further develop concrete recommendations to facilitate the further operation of the Customs Advisory Council.  As a result of the roundtable, activities were developed to highlight the most effective forms and procedures for further cooperation, in order to encourage international trade.

The mission is organised in the framework of the thematic component of the programme, which aims at supporting the regional economic integration process.