On November 13-14, 2017 in Borjomi, Georgia, the 27th Meeting of the Steering Committee of Trade and Transportation Facilitation Project of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM was held.

At the meeting, the Parties provided information on the implementation of the Trade and Transport Facilitation Project in their countries noting the importance of further simplifying procedures and ensuring security for moving goods and vehicles across the state borders of GUAM Member States.

The draft Protocol between the Customs Administrations of the GUAM Member States on cooperation in combating customs offences related to the movement of goods by air across the state borders of the GUAM Member States was agreed and also the concept of the Agreement between the Customs Administrations of the GUAM Member States on facilitating the transit of goods and vehicles across the territory of the GUAM Member States was discussed.

The draft Concept on the application and mutual recognition of mobile electronic and digital signatures for the customs clearance of goods and vehicles transported across the state borders of the GUAM Member States was considered and the presentation on the concept of the GUAM Digital Trade Hub was heard. In order to work out recommendations for the development of the GUAM Digital Trade Hub, it was decided to organize a round table on this issue with the participation of representatives of relevant state institutions of the GUAM Member States and interested participants in foreign economic activities.

During the meeting, the speech of the Regional Coordinator of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime / World Customs Organization for Control of Container Transportation in the Black Sea Region was delivered, as well as the results of the implementing Program in the GUAM Member States were discussed.

The next meeting of the Steering Committee of the GUAM Trade and Transportation Facilitation Project will be held in the first half of 2018.