Published
09/30/2025, 08:08From 24 to 27 September 2025, a regional dialogue on the creation of an electronic certificate of origin system in Central Asia was held in the village of Sary-Oy on Issyk-Kul. The event was organised with the support of the European Union and the International Trade Centre.
The discussions were attended by representatives of ministries of economy and trade, customs services, chambers of commerce and industry, and experts from five countries in the region, as well as international specialists from UNESCAP and the International Chamber of Commerce.
The main topic of the meeting was the transition from paper certificates of origin to electronic ones (e-CO) and the formation of a mechanism for their mutual recognition between countries in the region. This step will allow businesses to reduce costs, speed up the passage of goods across borders, increase the transparency of trade flows and minimise the risks of document loss or forgery.
"Supporting the creation of a mechanism for mutual recognition of electronic certificates of origin between Central Asian countries is an extremely important task. And it is important to understand that this is not just a technical issue. It is our real commitment to work together to create a more fair, transparent and predictable trading environment," said Eva Zhukovska, Programme Manager at the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan.
The dialogue discussed the countries' readiness to implement e-CO, as well as the legal and practical aspects of the project. Participants studied existing international models of cross-border exchange and recognition of certificates and considered the options most suitable for the conditions in Central Asia.
