OSCE supports workshop on tariffs and valuation for Afghan customs officers

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek, in co-operation with the Afghan National Customs Academy, concluded a ten-day training for 18 Afghan Customs officers on customs tariffs and valuation today, 23 October 2014, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The training aimed at developing the knowledge of Afghan customs officers in law enforcement, customs law, and tariff and valuation procedures which simplify trade between countries. 

Mohammad Farhad Ahmadzai and Niaz Mohammad Ahmadzai, Senior Instructors at the Afghan National Customs Academy commended the timely and well-organized training program. “We see the need for further training courses, as this is an excellent way of capacity-building within the existing staff,” said Ahmadzai.

“The tariff system used world-wide contributes to the harmonization of customs and trade procedures and trade data, thus reducing the costs related to international trade. It is also extensively used by governments, international organizations and the private sector for many other purposes such as internal taxes, trade policies, monitoring of controlled goods, rules of origin, freight tariffs, transport statistics, price monitoring, quota controls, compilation of national accounts, and economic research and analysis”, said John MacGregor, Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

The Customs Training Centre, where the course took place, was established in November 2013 with OSCE Centre in Bishkek support, as part of a project aimed at building the capacity of Kyrgyz and Afghan customs officers.