Recommendation from the Japan-EU Conference on
Tajikistan - Afghanistan Border Management and Trade Facilitation

1. Introduction

1. (1) The Japan-EU Conference on border management in Afghanistan-Tajikistan was held on 7-8 October 2010 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Responding to the Japan-EU Summit held in April 2010, the objectives of the Conference were to discuss (a) contribution towards the facilitation of legitimate trade and transit, (b) methods to reduce the illicit movement of goods and people, (c) how to enhance security in Afghanistan and its neighboring countries.
2. (2) Mindful of the broad and wide ranging coverage that border management and trade facilitation in Central Asia encompasses, in order to produce a concrete outcome to be reported to the Japan-EU High Level Group established by the Japan-EU Summit, the conference focused on the following areas: Tajik and Afghan Customs reform and modernization; international and local initiatives and contribution in the region; technical assistance and capacity building; risk management; improvement and optimization of workflow at land border crossing point.
3. (3) The Conference brought together government officials and customs experts, from Tajikistan, Afghanistan and its neighboring countries and the following lessons were drawn over the two-day intense discussion.

2. Lessons learned

(1) Japan and EU can work towards enhancing coordination with other donors in Central Asia.

• There are number of countries and organizations already sponsoring border management and trade facilitation assistance in Central Asia. It is necessary for all donor countries/organizations to dispense assistance effectively and to coordinate their programs. Rather than conducting another series of assistance projects, Japan and the EU will be better off by focusing their work on enhancing coordination and creating synergies among donors.

(2) Japan and the EU could function as a useful vehicle to increase cross-border cooperation between Afghanistan and the Central Asia countries.

• There is limited cooperation between the government of Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries in matters of border control despite massive illicit narcotics, movement of persons and arms trade along their shared borders. Japan and EU could function as a useful vehicle to increase cross-border cooperation.

(3) Continued political commitment by Japan and the EU for social welfare, economic development and political reforms in Central Asia remains necessary

• Improving border management and trade facilitation capabilities in Central Asia not only depends on enhancing capacity itself, but also on social welfare, economic development and political reforms. This will require a commitment at the high political level by those countries, for which, the political commitment by Japan and the EU will also remain necessary.

3. Way forward

1. (1) This recommendation will be reported to the Japan- EU High Level Group for their discussion on how to further enhance Japan-EU cooperation in Central Asia.
2. (2) Responding to the request by the participants of Tajikistan and Afghanistan officials, Japan and the EU envisage holding the next conference of this kind in autumn of 2011 in Central Asia, including Afghanistan.