DUSHANBE, July 3, 2009, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s Customs Services and R.I.S.K. Company, Azerbaijan, on July 2 signed here a contract for $6.16 million for the development of a Unified Automated Information System (UAIS) under the ongoing Regional Customs Modernization and Infrastructure Development Project financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
According to ADB’s Tajikistan Resident Mission, this is the largest contract ever signed by the Customs Service. Asian Development Bank”s (ADB) Tajikistan Resident Mission”s Country Director, Makoto Ojiro, witnessed the signing.
The Project is a continuation of ADB support for customs reform and modernization for Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic under the CAREC program. The Project”s objectives are to (i) improve the efficiency and transparency of customs services, and reinforce the ongoing customs legal reforms and simplification of customs procedures; and (ii) facilitate trade and promote regional customs cooperation through concerted customs reforms and modernization in the West and Central Asian region.
This component consists of three interrelated subcomponents: (i) developing the core UAIS application systems and associated operation-support systems; (ii) developing communications infrastructure to support UAIS operation (i.e., providing and strengthening the communication links between the Customs Services headquarters, regional customs offices, customs border posts, and inland clearance points); and (iii) providing training and a public awareness campaign to ensure sustainability and broad-based support for customs services.
The Project will have a positive regional impact by (i) improving transit conditions of the two countries, greatly facilitating trade with neighboring countries, (ii) contributing to the improvement of the overall trading and investment environment in the region through strengthening regional customs cooperation for trade facilitation and prevention of smuggling and drug trafficking.
Reduced transaction costs make trade in small volumes possible and therefore directly benefit poor and small traders. The overall social benefit derives from increased revenue collection that contributes to sound fiscal management and provision of social services.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2008, it approved $10.5 billion of loans, $811.4 million of grant projects, and technical assistance amounting to $274.5 million.
