WCO Secretary General Visits Uzbekistan, Commends Customs Modernization Efforts and Opens Global Canine Forum

• Secretary General Ian Saunders meets with His Excellency President Mirziyoyev to discuss Uzbekistan's new Customs strategy and modernization.
• Opens the 7th Global Canine Forum, marking 30 years of the Uzbekistan Customs K9 Centre in Tashkent.
• Commends continued WCO-Uzbekistan cooperation.

World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General Ian Saunders travelled to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for the 7th Global Canine Forum and an official visit that included an audience with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Secretary General commended Uzbekistan for hosting this forum, and recognized the country's continued progress in Customs modernization, including the recently launched "New Uzbekistan Customs - 2030" Strategy.

Canine Capability

The Secretary General's visit centered on the 7th Global Canine Forum, hosted at Uzbekistan's National Canine Centre, which was established in 2008 as host of the WCO Regional Dog Training Centre (RDTC). During the visit, the Secretary General toured the Centre's veterinary clinic, training grounds, and observed demonstration performances by canine units from various Uzbekistan national agencies, accompanied by Akmalhuja Mavlonov, Chairman, Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In opening the forum, the Secretary General unscored that the event exemplifies the core of the theme that the international Customs community is focusing on for this year, Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment. In his address, Mr. Saunders pointed to the multifaced benefits of this event from developing the next generation of teams to building sustainable canine programmes, and forging international relationships allowing Customs administrations to cooperate and become stronger together.

Innovation and Modernization

During his special audience with President Mirziyoyev, the Secretary General spoke about "New Uzbekistan Customs - 2030" Strategy, commending its ambition, scope and serving as an example of Customs modernization in action and demonstration of how investment in Customs can bring real benefits. He noted that WCO experts had contributed input to several areas of the Strategy. The audience concluded with the Secretary General being awarded the medal of 35 years of independence by President Mirziyoyev as recognition of the WCO's contribution to the development of Customs.

Mr. Saunders also familiarized himself with the work of Uzbekistan's Customs during a visit to the Customs Committee Secretariat, visiting the Central Customs Laboratory, Cybersecurity Centre, Declaration and Call Centres.

Uzbekistan at the WCO

Uzbekistan has been a WCO Member since 28 July 1992 and is a party to the Revised Kyoto, Harmonized System, Istanbul, and Containers Conventions. Uzbekistan hosts the WCO Regional Dog Training Centre and the Regional Customs Laboratory, established in 2021. Uzbekistan also participates in a range of WCO programmes, including the WCO-SECO Global Trade Facilitation Programme and the WCO/JICA Risk Management Master Trainer Programme.