DUSHANBE, October 24, 2009, Asia-Plus — The EU-UNDP Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA) has completed the renovation and re-equipping of three border outposts for the Border Force of Tajikistan.
According to press releases issued by the UNDP CO in Tajikistan, the border post “Sokhcharv” was handed over to the Tajik Border Force on October 23. The post-handover ceremony was attended by the Commander of the Tajik Border Force, Major-General Sherali Mirzo, French Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Henry Zipper de Fabiani, UK Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Trevor Charles Moore, and representatives of the EC Delegation, UNDP, and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
The substantial renovation of the border outposts “Shidz”, “Sokhcharv” and “Pastkhuv” included barracks and officers’ houses, new heating systems, roofs, floors, double glazing and electric wiring. Furniture and kitchen equipment were also provided.
The total cost of the renovations was €348,164, plus an additional €66,370 for furniture, household and kitchen equipment.
The objectives of the BOMCA program are to contribute to the facilitation of legitimate trade and transit; to reduce the illicit movement of goods and people; and to help increase security in the region. The main component of BOMCA is capacity development for integrated border management (IBM) through exposure of the leadership of all agencies to European ‘best practices’ of IBM and specialized training on IBM and cross border cooperation. The program also aims to modernize and upgrade training facilities and to improve the working conditions at border crossing points on regional trade corridors. By providing infrastructure (fully constructed and equipped BCPs and Border Outposts), equipment and training, and international markets, the program has contributed to the strengthening of the Tajik-Afghan border.
Within the framework of the BOMCA assistance program, the European Union fosters institutional reform in the area of border management, strengthens training capacities, assists in securing the Tajik-Afghan border, enhances infrastructure along trade & transit corridors and helps build counter-drug capacities at borders in Central Asia.
The BOMCA assistance program is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by UNDP.
Since 2004, BOMCA has become one of the largest EU assistance programs in Central Asia. The program’s accumulated budgets for the period 2003-2010 amounts to €25.655 million, with additional UNDP co-funding of €2.05 million.
