The Regional workshop on awareness raising and facilitation of the train-the-trainers concept was held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic, from 30 July to 1 August 2024. The event was organized within the framework of the Passenger and Cargo Border Team, implemented through the UNODC-WCO Global Container Control Programme. The seminar was conducted by WCO experts.

The training was intended for customs officers and other competent authorities of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Among the participants from Turkmenistan were the Director of the Training Center, customs officers of the Ashgabat International Airport, and customs post "Parom Gechelgesi" of the Balkan Velayat Customs.

The purpose of the event is to enhance the level of expertise of Port Control Team members in the field of identifying and interdicting high-risk consignments and to involve them in training processes as regional experts.

Next stages of the component will envisage desktop screening of 12 candidates, based on their CVs to be sent by candidates directly to the dedicated WCO experts panel within August-December 2024, followed by the accreditation testing exercises during the first quarter of 2025. The successful incumbents will become WCO-accredited trainers.