Merke Train Station, Kazakhstan, 30 April 2010 – Over the course of five days, thirty four representatives of border management agencies (Border Service- and Customs Service) from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan participated in an Integrated Border Management (IBM) skills and Drug and Precursors Detection at border crossing points (BCP) training sessions, organised with the support of the EU-UNDP BOMCA assistance programme in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

Experts from the European Union together with local trainers provided instruction on IBM methodologies and assessed daily operations of border control agencies. Trainers presented border police and customs procedures such as information exchange and risk analysis implemented in Europe.

The training's agenda included a series of presentations on the implementation of IBM combined with practical work. Participants discussed daily operations management at a BCP and newly developed Passport Examination Procedures Manual. At the end of the training, participants conducted a practical exercise at the Merke train station.

Within the framework of the EU-UNDP BOMCA assistance programme, the European Union fosters institutional reform in border management, strengthens training capacities, assists in securing the Tajik-Afghan border, improves the infrastructure along trade and transit routes, and helps counter drug smuggling in Central Asia.

The EU-UNDP BOMCA assistance programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP with ICMPD as a partner.

For more information please contact Mr. Amir Yelchibekov, BOMCA Country Manager in Kazakhstan, in Astana at (+7-7172) 59-25-67 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; or Mr. Ruslan Bayish-tegin, BOMCA Country Manager in Kyrgyzstan, at (+996 312) 31 73 83 or by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text65196 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it