On 28 September, the 5th meeting of the Trilateral Commission on Customs Matters between the governments of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia took place in Goygol District.

Participants first visited the monument to National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the centre of Goygol and laid flowers at it.

The meeting was attended by delegations led by Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, Colonel-General of Customs Service Shahin Baghirov, Turkish Deputy Minister of Trade Sezai Ucharmak, and Head of the Revenue Service of Georgia, Deputy Minister of Finance Mamuka Barataşvili.

The meeting discussed the current state and prospects for developing cooperation between the customs services of the three countries. Progress in implementing the agreements reached at previous meetings was reviewed, and measures to be implemented at the next stage were identified.

During the discussions, particular attention was paid to optimising customs procedures along the Middle Corridor, accelerating transit operations and expanding information exchange between customs services.

Views were also exchanged on simplifying transit operations within the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, speeding up border crossing processes and strengthening practical cooperation between customs services.

The parties discussed harmonisation of transit customs procedures, improvement of preliminary electronic information exchange, risk management and expansion of cooperation in combating customs offences.

At the end of the meeting, a protocol reflecting the agreements reached was signed.

As part of the event, the 6th meeting of the Joint Commission on Customs Matters between the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Trade of Turkey was also held.

The meeting discussed the introduction of the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS), simplification of customs procedures, development of TIR and e-TIR mechanisms, acceleration of the passage of freight vehicles through border checkpoints and increasing their throughput capacity.

In addition, opportunities were considered for expanding cooperation in combating customs offences, information exchange, the authorised economic operator institution, customs statistics and risk management, as well as conducting joint operations and training.

Following the meeting, a protocol reflecting the issues discussed and the agreements reached was signed.