Heads of Customs Administrations of the ECO Region Convene

On May 28, 2025, the 10th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Customs Administration (CHCA) of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was convened in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.

The delegation from the Republic of Tajikistan was led by Colonel-General Karimzoda Khurshed Abdurakhmon, the Head of the Customs Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. In his opening remarks, he underscored the critical importance of intensifying cooperation to further advance customs activities within the ECO region.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the activities of ECO committees and evaluated the outcomes of the 9th CHCA Meeting held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, on July 20, 2023. Discussions focused on key issues, including the digitalization of customs processes, the enhancement of transit procedures, the development of a Regional Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system, and the strengthening of cooperation among the customs authorities of member states.

The ECO Secretariat presented a strategic document, ECO Vision 2026–2035, aimed at modernizing and digitizing customs operations across all ten member states.

Particular emphasis was placed on the need to expand collaboration with international organizations, such as the World Customs Organization (WCO), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and other development partners, to bolster the capacity building of customs authorities.

In closing, Khurshed Karimzoda, on behalf of the Republic of Tajikistan, expressed profound gratitude to the leadership and staff of the Customs Administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the high level of organization and warm hospitality.