T.R. Ministry of Customs and Trade

Last Update 22 Dec 2011

Information Note on Silk Road Customs Cooperation Initiative

Bearing in mind the need for improving the customs practices for contributing to trade facilitation in the Silk Road region, the Turkish Customs Administration has launched a cooperation initiative among the Silk Road Customs Administrations in order to help create a favourable environment for businesses.

This initiative was introduced in October 2008 at the “International Forum on the Role of Customs Administration on Facilitating and Promoting Trade Among Silk Road Countries” held in Antalya, Turkey.

This two day Forum has brought together highest level customs representatives of 17 Silk Road Countries (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic Of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, People’s Republic of China, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, Tadjikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), as well as the representatives of the relevant international organizations [World Customs Administration (WCO), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), European Organisation for Forwarding and Logistics (CLECAT) and International Road Transport Union (IRU)] and the private sector.

There panel discussions have been held during the Forum. At the first panel discussion the participants had the chance to share their views on how trade facilitation and simplification of border cross procedures trough the Silk Road could promote the Region’s trade. The second panel discussion has focused on Customs Administrations’ Role on International Road Transport. In this context, the participants emphasized that through fast and efficient customs controls and border crossing procedures, Silk Road would be one of the most favorable route for freight forwarders and businesses. The last panel discussion focused on the Customs-Business Partnership for trade promotion along the Silk Road. In this respect, the representatives of the private sector have mentioned their expectation from the Customs Administrations in order to facilitate the trade while the representatives of the Customs Administrations have emphasized the need for better cooperation with the private sector.

At the end of the Forum, a document called Antalya Declaration has been adopted. This document has reflected the outcomes of the fruitful discussions throughout the Forum. By this declaration, Heads of Silk Road Customs Administrations have emphasized their intention for trade promotion along the Silk Road and agreed on taking concrete steps on trade facilitation and simplification of border crossing procedures. Furthermore, it was agreed to hold a Heads of Silk Road Customs Administrations Meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan in the last quarter of 2009, in order to discuss those concrete steps at the highest level.

In consultation with the Azerbaijan Customs Administration, it has been planned to organize a High Level Working Group Meeting (WGM) for discussing/drafting the agenda and other necessary documents for the Baku meeting. In this context, the WGM was held in Ankara between 28-29 September 2009 with the participation of high level customs officials of the 9 Countries (Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Syrian Arab Republic and Turkey. The representatives of World Customs Organizations, UNECE, UNDP and World Bank also took part in the WGM.

During the said WGM, the draft meeting documents prepared by the Turkish Customs Administrations namely “Strategy Paper for Silk Road Countries’ Customs Administrations to Facilitate and Simplify Border Crossings” and “Draft Questionnaire on Designated Border Crossing Points (BCP) and Ports along the Silk Road” were discussed and finalized. Furthermore, the draft agenda for the Heads of Silk Road Customs Administrations Meeting to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Heads of Silk Road Customs Administrations Meeting was held on 11-12 November 2009 in Baku, Azerbaijan. During this meeting the above mentioned strategy paper and a declaration called the “Baku Declaration” was adopted. By this declaration it was agreed to establish a working group for elaboration of the Caravanserai Project which aims to simplfy border crossings along the Silk Road. The said working group would establish a project team which will carry out gaps and needs analysis and accordingly make suggestions and proposals for the realization of the Caravanserai Project .

The Third International Forum was held in Tehran on 19-20 November 2010. The Heads or high level representatives of 16 countries’ customs administrations from the region and the speakers from WCO, ECO and IRU were participated, while Turkey was represented by the State Minister Mr Hayati YAZICI. Tehran Decleration was agreed on at the end by the Forum.

The Fourth International Forum was held in Batumi, Georgia on 27-28 October 2011.
The event has brought together high level customs officers from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Korea, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Serbia, Uzbekistan as well as the representatives of a number of international organizations. Turkey was represented by the Customs and Trade Minister Mr Hayati YAZICI who underscored, in his address to the Forum, the importance of transforming the Initiative into projects with an action oriented approach without delay and suggested to discuss on Project-based propositions of the participants. After two-day-panel work and discussions, the Batumi Declaration was adopted, which suggests an Experts Meeting will be convened in Turkey in January 2012 to develop projects in accordance with an action plan.

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