Uzbekistan has reduced customs declaration processing time to 20 minutes, with 94% of export and 87% of import shipments now cleared under simplified procedures, Presidential Press Service reported as Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with World Customs Organization Secretary General Ian Saunders in Tashkent on September 7 .
The meeting was held as part of Saunders’ visit to Uzbekistan for the 7th Global Canine Forum and focused on improving customs administration, strengthening the capacity of customs authorities and expanding practical cooperation in combating violations.
The sides noted that with support from the World Customs Organization, Uzbekistan has joined several international conventions on trade facilitation, introduced modern customs control mechanisms and developed and adopted a strategy for the development of the Customs Service through 2030.
The reforms have also expanded the use of simplified customs procedures. Currently, 94% of export shipments and 87% of import shipments are processed under simplified procedures, while the time required to process customs declarations has been reduced to 20 minutes.
Uzbekistan is also introducing digital solutions to improve cooperation between customs authorities and businesses. The measures are aimed at reducing administrative barriers and lowering corruption risks in customs procedures. The meeting also addressed further digitalization and harmonization of customs procedures, improvements to the regulatory framework, and the training and professional development of customs personnel.
The sides emphasized the importance of these measures as Uzbekistan continues preparations for accession to the World Trade Organization. Following the meeting, Uzbekistan and the World Customs Organization agreed to jointly develop and adopt a roadmap containing concrete measures to deepen cooperation and further improve customs administration.
