TAING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO CUSTOMS RISK MANAGEMENT IN UZBEKISTAN

Border clearance authorities in Uzbekistan are taking on a stronger, more integrated approach to risk management, in line with regional efforts to coordinate border control, involving representatives of customs, sanitary and phytosanitary and veterinary authorities, technical regulation agencies and other departments.

Uzbekistan shares a border with all other Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. There are more than 60 road and rail border crossing points in Uzbekistan, facilitating the daily movement of thousands of goods and passengers. Effective management of such flows requires precision, coordinated action and the use of modern technologies. 

Strengthening technical capacity in integrated risk management and coordinated border control improves the efficiency and security of border operations. Instead of checking all cargo without exception, mechanisms are being introduced to identify goods with high risk of non-compliance, allowing conscientious companies to pass through controls more quickly. This approach saves time, reduces business costs and increases security.

Seminar participants studied international experience, data analysis tools and modern digital solutions used in border control systems in different countries. Particular attention was paid to the use of artificial intelligence for risk assessment, profiling based on historical data and the development of inter-agency information exchange using modern digital solutions. 

Practical exercises helped experts analyze existing risk management mechanisms in Uzbekistan, identify areas for improvement, and outline steps for creating a national concept for implementing integrated risk management. Following the discussions, participants agreed on the following priorities: developing data exchange between agencies, introducing digital risk analysis tools, and providing regular training for staff.

As noted in the ITC guide Managing Risk for Safe, Efficient Trade (Geneva, 2022), risk management is a key element of trade facilitation, enabling both the acceleration of goods movement and compliance with security requirements. These principles formed the basis for discussions and practical work at the workshop. Implementing an integrated approach to risk management will enable Uzbekistan to strengthen supply chain security, increase procedural transparency, reduce cargo clearance times and build trust among international trading partners. The workshop was conducted by ITC international risk management expert Valentin Nikonov.