“5th Technical Working Group Meeting: CATS and ICE Pilot Phase Implementation”

We are glad to announce the successful completion of the “5th Technical Working Group Meeting: CATS and ICE Pilot Phase Implementation” held on 12-13 March 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan at ROCB Europe premises. This event marked a significant milestone in the development of the CAREC Advanced Transit System (CATS) and Information Common Exchange (ICE), aimed at enhancing regional transit trade and improving the efficiency of customs agencies in CAREC countries. The meeting brought together experts from Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan, along with representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and international consultants. Key discussions included the outcomes of the CATS/ICE prototype system testing, updates on the system's progress, and the next steps in the pilot phase implementation. Special thanks to all the participants and speakers, including Ms. Sunniya Durrani-Jamal, Country Director of ADB Resident Mission in Azerbaijan, Mr. Natig Shirinov, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijan State Customs Committee, Ms. Zulfia Karimova, ADB Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist for Central and West Asia, and Mr. Antonio Lo Parco, ROCB Europe Director, for their valuable contributions. Dedication and expertise of all the experts involved are driving the success of this initiative. At ROCB Europe we continue to work for efficient and seamless cooperation in the Region between customs administrations, donors and stakeholders of various capacity building initiatives.