World Bank to support Customs Control Committee transformation

28 Nov '07

3 min read

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved a USD 18.5 million loan for the Kazakhstan Customs Development Project. The project will help reform and modernize customs administration in Kazakhstan by increasing revenue collection, improving transparency of customs operations and promoting the use of internationally accepted practices.

“The Government of Kazakhstan's vision of customs reform is embodied in the Triennial Program for Customs Modernization and was set out in several speeches of President Nazarbayev.

Through this Project, the Bank will support the transformation of the Customs Control Committee into a modern service-oriented agency, with international standards in customs processing, significant emphasis on staff training and combating corruption, and use of the latest technology,” said Sergei Shatalov, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan.

“Modernization of customs is an integral part of the overall administrative reform that the Government is pursuing, and we hope that this Project will make a tangible contribution in this area,” he added.

The Government of Kazakhstan's focus on customs reform over the last several years has led to strengthening of the legislative base, increases in revenue collection, and the simplification of customs procedures. As a result, the average customs tariff in Kazakhstan is less than 10 percent, the country has eliminated almost all export taxes, and there has been a recent reduction in tariffs for food and other products.

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