--- title: "Kazakhstan and WCO Expand Cooperation: Digital Customs, Fast Transit, and Personnel Training" country: KZ lang: en author: Сапа Т.И. (https://buhgpt.kz/authors/sapa-ti) date: 2026-09-23 canonical: https://buhgpt.kz/suraqtar/kazahstan-i-vtamo-rasshiryayut-sotrudnichestvo-cifrovaya--en source: BuhGPT --- # Kazakhstan and WCO Expand Cooperation: Digital Customs, Fast Transit, and Personnel Training > **TL;DR:** What happened Kazakhstan and the World Customs Organization (WCO) are expanding cooperation in areas directly linked to the development of foreign trade and transit. The central topics of the talks were digital customs, accelerating the lawful movement of goods, improving the --- What happened Kazakhstan and the World Customs Organization (WCO) are expanding cooperation in areas directly linked to the development of foreign trade and transit. The central topics of the talks were digital customs, accelerating the lawful movement of goods, improving the accuracy of risk control, and training personnel for the customs service. The talks took place in Astana as part of the visit of WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders. During the visit, meetings were held with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Prime Minister. The very fact that these issues were discussed at such a level shows that the customs agenda is regarded as part of the country's broader economic and transit policy. Kazakhstan is consistently strengthening its role as one of the key transit hubs of Eurasia. Against this backdrop, customs authorities need to address two tasks at once: ensuring the rapid clearance of goods that meet requirements and identifying potential violations based on risk assessment. Why digital customs matters Digitalization makes it possible to render customs procedures more transparent and consistent for business. Electronic data exchange, automation of individual operations, and the use of risk-based control help reduce the number of unnecessary steps in the clearance of goods. For companies, this means the ability to prepare the necessary information in advance, plan logistics better, and receive a more predictable order for undergoing procedures. At the same time, digital customs does not cancel the requirements for documents, goods, and compliance with the rules of foreign economic activity. Above all, it changes the way business and government bodies interact. The combination of speed and accuracy is of particular importance. If control is built on risk analysis, customs resources can be directed toward more complex and potentially problematic operations, while lawful shipments have the opportunity to pass through faster. Who is affected by the cooperation The new agenda concerns participants in foreign economic activity, carriers, logistics companies, importers, and exporters. It is also important for organizations operating on transit routes through Kazakhstan and interacting with the customs authorities of the Eurasian countries. Businesses should closely monitor official clarifications and changes in electronic procedures. Practical readiness includes verifying information about the goods, shipment documents, route data, and the information used in customs declaration. For the state, cooperation with the WCO creates an opportunity to take into account international experience and to develop customs administration in light of the growth in freight flows. A separate area remains the training of specialists, since digital tools require not only technical infrastructure but also employees capable of working with data, procedures, and risk assessment. What this can offer transit and business Accelerating transit depends not on a single solution but on the coherence of procedures, the quality of data, and the interaction of all participants in the supply chain. Therefore, the development of digital customs and personnel capacity can contribute to greater transparency of shipments and a reduction in the administrative burden. However, the specific effect for individual companies will depend on which solutions are implemented and how they are formalized in practical procedures. Until official details appear, market participants should focus on current requirements and use the available state electronic services. Frequently asked questions What did Kazakhstan and the WCO discuss? — The parties discussed digital customs, accelerating lawful transit, more accurate risk identification, and training personnel for the customs service. Why is digitalization of customs needed? — It helps move interaction into electronic form, simplify individual operations, and make the passage of goods more predictable. Does accelerating transit mean the abolition of control? — No. The point is to clear lawful goods faster while at the same time checking operations related to potential risks more accurately. Who might be affected by future changes? — Primarily participants in foreign economic activity, carriers, exporters, importers, and logistics companies. What should businesses do right now? — Monitor official announcements, verify the accuracy of documents and information about goods, and comply with current customs requirements. Sources Kazakhstan and the WCO expand cooperation: digital customs, fast transit, and personnel training --- _BuhGPT — ИИ-помощник для бухгалтеров Казахстана: https://buhgpt.kz_