Uzbekistan Customs Committee, IMF Discuss International Advisors

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Sh. Muminov, held a working meeting with the Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Uzbekistan, Koba Gvenetadze.

The event was also attended by Georgi Kandelaki, who currently serves as an advisor to the chairman of the Tax Committee through the IMF.

The officials reviewed the current state of the bilateral partnership, assessed the interim results of ongoing joint programs, and outlined priority vectors for further cooperation.

The main item on the agenda was practical steps to improve national customs administration by integrating advanced global experience and attracting external expert support. During the talks, the sides discussed an initiative to appoint a permanent international expert to serve as an advisor to the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan.

IMF representatives stated that procedural activities in this direction are in an active phase and expressed confidence that positive results would be achieved in the very near future.

The interlocutors paid significant attention to the mechanisms for implementing IMF technical assistance programs. In particular, they agreed on the parameters for attracting specialized, short-term international experts whose efforts will be aimed at modernizing the national risk management system, increasing the efficiency of customs audits, and technologically developing the activities of the central customs laboratory.

The leadership of the IMF Resident Representative Office confirmed its readiness to fully assist with the arrival and deployment of highly specialized experts in these specified areas before the end of July current year.

Following the dialogue, the sides recorded a firm agreement to consistently strengthen strategic cooperation. Joint efforts of the Customs Committee and the International Monetary Fund will focus on the gradual introduction of modern administration mechanisms into customs practice, as well as on continuing comprehensive regulatory initiatives designed to provide expert support for large-scale institutional reforms in the sector.