The Customs Administrations of Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to expand practical cooperation, the Committee of State Revenues of Kazakhstan reported. One focus of this cooperation will be the implementation of digital technologies to accelerate customs control and overall logistics processes. In particular, plans include creating a digital transit route linking Kazakhstan’s main logistics hubs with UAE ports. The parties also agreed to launch a pilot project for electronic exchange of customs data and to establish exchange programs between their training centers.
“A bilateral meeting was held in Astana between Zhandos Duissenbiev, Chairman of the Committee of State Revenues of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Mr. Rashed Laheij Al Mansouri, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Customs Administration,” the press service of Kazakhstan’s Committee of State Revenues said.
During the meeting, the parties discussed ways to expand practical cooperation in digital customs administration and to strengthen regional logistics integration.
“The main agreements and directions of cooperation include piloting the electronic exchange of customs data and developing risk profiles for priority commodity categories using predictive analytics technologies,” the press service noted.
They also discussed specific steps to establish the digital transit route connecting Kazakhstan’s key logistics hubs with UAE ports.
At the same time, representatives of both customs administrations emphasized their readiness to enhance coordination within the World Customs Organization (WCO) and other international platforms to advance their shared interests in digital trade and the simplification of cross-border procedures.
This initiative is expected to lay the groundwork for mutual recognition of controls and expedited cargo clearance, as well as to support the overall development of transport-logistics infrastructure.
To practically strengthen their cooperation, Kazakhstan and the UAE plan to launch exchange programs between their training centers to prepare specialists trained in international digital standards (post-clearance audit and big data analysis).
The Abu Dhabi Customs Administration also proposed holding a series of expert workshops and internships for the specialists of Kazakhstan’s Committee of State Revenues, including training on artificial intelligence systems and contactless customs control.
“Our collaboration is not only an exchange of best practices but also the joint development of new solutions. … The meeting demonstrated a high level of trust between our customs services and a shared commitment to concrete results,” concluded Zhandos Duissenbiev.