20 April 2021 a donor conference on funding the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) was held via videoconference.

The conference was supported by the Ministries of Foreign and Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It was attended by heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, international organizations accredited in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The purpose of the event is to discuss matters of mutual interest in view of CARICC's mandate in combating illicit drug trafficking, to use its potential, experience and resources, and to seek new cooperation arrangements in supporting the development of the Centre and its funding.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by Mr. Rustam Aziz Miralizoda, Director of CARICC, Mr. Akan Rakhmetullin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Arystangani Zapparov, Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs, and Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia.

In his speech, Mr. R.A. Miralizoda briefed on results of the Centre's performance, its achievements, potential, and development prospects.

It was mentioned that the states of the region and permanent partners of the Centre regard it as an effective element of regional security, an effective platform for coordination of efforts on anti-drug track in Central Asia.

Over the years, CARICC has become an organization that provides a productive forum for Member States to shape appropriate responses to contemporary challenges and threats.

In turn, resource base of the Centre and experience of its staff members defines great prospects in expanding counteraction not only to drug trafficking and coordination of anti-drug work, but also in tackling transnational organized crime, terrorism, and human trafficking.

In conclusion, Mr. R.A. Miralizoda called on potential donors to review the possibility of providing financial support to the Centre for the most effective and qualitative performance of its tasks.

Ms. A. Mittal also highlighted CARICC's achievements and results, and stressed importance of the Centre on counter narcotics track in the Central Asian region.

She also identified as an important priority the need for adequate funding for the Centre, which is essential for its development and is in line with main directions of UNODC's core programmes in the region.

The Kazakhstani side reaffirmed its commitment to the main priorities of international cooperation in the anti-drug sphere, while noting the leading role of CARICC as a UNODC project uniting the joint efforts of 7 participating states and 17 observer countries.

During the meeting, the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. William Moser, also made a speech, who said that further donor assistance to the Center would be considered by the US Government after agreeing on the priority issues for the American side. These include the entry of Afghanistan and Turkey into the Center, the signing of the Agreement on the exchange and protection of classified information, as well as the formation of the position of the participating states on making voluntary contributions to its budget.

The conference was moderated by the Head of the UNODC Program Office in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Navid Riaz, who during the event made a presentation on the CARICC strategy and the efficiency of using its resources in the Central Asian region in countering not only drug trafficking, but also transnational organized crime. terrorism, human trafficking corruption.

In conclusion, Mr. Rustam Aziz Miralizoda, Director of CARICC thanked the participants and expressed hope that donor countries will find additional opportunities to finance the Center for its sustainable development.