Official Launch of Pre-Arrival Information Exchange System Between Customs Authorities of Belarus and Ukraine (PRINEX) at “Novaya Guta” Border Crossing Point Ushers in New Level of Regional Customs Cooperation

An official ceremony marking the launch of the pre-arrival information exchange system on goods and vehicles between the customs authorities of Belarus and Ukraine (PRINEX) will take place on 22 October 2015 at the “Novaya Guta” border crossing point in Belarus.

The PRINEX system*, developed with the funding of the European Union and through the support of the International Organization for Migration, aims at improving the efficiency of customs control, reducing customs fraud, minimizing the “human factor” in operations through increased automation, facilitating transparent customs procedures and reducing border crossing time.

The event will be attended by Head of the EU Delegation to Belarus Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus Mr. Sergei Borisyuk, First Deputy Chairman of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine Mr. Sergei Belan, Head of the International Organization for Migration in Belarus Mr. Zeynal Hajiyev, and Senior Programme Coordinator of the International Organization for Migration in Ukraine Mr. Stephen Rogers.

The event will include a guided tour for honoured guests and media of the territory of “Novaya Guta” border crossing point to see the PRINEX system in operation.

*The PRINEX system has been developed within the EU-funded project “Support to the Creation of an Electronic System of Pre-Arrival Information Exchange between the Customs Authorities of Belarus and Ukraine (PRINEX)” implemented by the International Organization for Migration in Belarus and Ukraine in cooperation with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Belarus and the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine. The total project budget is over Euro 4 million, Euro 3.667 million of which has been provided as part of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership Integrated Border Management Flagship Initiative.

The project has enabled over 40 customs officials from Belarus and Ukraine to visit three EU Member States to learn about IT infrastructure and mechanisms related to information exchange. Five trainings for 110 customs officials on as risk analysis, document security, pre-arrival information exchange and fighting the smuggling of goods have been conducted.

Specialized computer equipment has been procured and installed, and the information, technology and communication infrastructure of all road border crossing points along the common Belarus-Ukraine border and of information exchange centres in Belarus and Ukraine has been improved to enhance international cooperation.

We kindly invite media representatives to cover the event.

Please, contact us at azaitsev@iom.int and smi@customs.gov.by for more information.