Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General Ian Saunders visited Uzbekistan, where he met with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to discuss customs modernization and opened the 7th Global Canine Forum in Tashkent, the WCO said.
During his meeting with the Uzbek president, Saunders discussed the “New Customs of Uzbekistan — 2030” strategy, describing it as ambitious and wide-ranging. He said the document reflects a practical approach to modernizing the customs service and demonstrates how investment in customs infrastructure can deliver tangible results.
The WCO secretary general also noted Uzbekistan's continued progress in modernizing its customs service. According to Saunders, WCO experts had submitted proposals in several areas of the strategy.
At the end of the meeting, Mirziyoyev awarded Saunders the “35 Years of Independence” medal in recognition of the WCO's contribution to the development of customs affairs.
A central event of the visit was the 7th Global Canine Forum, held to mark the 30th anniversary of Uzbekistan's Customs Canine Center. The event took place at the National Canine Center of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.
The center was established in 2008 as a WCO Regional Dog Training Center (RDTC). During his visit, Saunders toured its veterinary clinic and training grounds and watched demonstrations by canine units from various Uzbek government agencies. He was accompanied by Akmalhuja Mavlonov, chairman of the Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Opening the forum, Saunders said its organization reflected the main theme receiving attention from the international customs community this year: protecting society through vigilance and commitment to duty by customs authorities.
The forum, he said, provided opportunities to train a new generation of canine teams and establish sustainable development programs for them. He also emphasized the event's importance in strengthening international ties between customs administrations and jointly improving their effectiveness.
As part of his visit, the WCO secretary general visited the Secretariat of the Customs Committee, where he familiarized himself with the activities of Uzbekistan's customs authorities. He also visited the Central Customs Laboratory, the Cybersecurity Center, and declaration and appeals processing centers.
Uzbekistan has been a member of the WCO since 28 July 1992. The country participates in implementing the provisions of the Revised Kyoto Convention, the International Convention on the Harmonized System, the Istanbul Convention and the Convention on Containers.
The WCO Regional Dog Training Center and a Regional Customs Laboratory, established in 2021, also operate in Uzbekistan.
In addition, Uzbekistan participates in WCO programs, including the WCO-SECO Global Trade Facilitation Programme and the WCO/JICA program for training master trainers in risk management.
