CARICC hosted a working group meeting on development of the Regional Information and Communication System under the joint UNODC-CARICC initiative on 3-4 August 2023. 

The meeting brought together border and customs officials, and law enforcement and special agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Republic of Uzbekistan, experts from UNODC Programme Offices in Central Asia and CARICC.

Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov, International Coordinator of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia, and Mr. Atageldi Yazlyyev, CARICC Director, delivered welcoming remarks during the event. 

Objectives and tasks of the working meeting were to discuss results of implementation of recommendations contained in outcome document of the Regional Expert Meeting of Heads of Analytical Departments of Competent Authorities of Central Asian countries of 3 August 2022, regarding development of a working group to elaborate the "Concept and Terms of Reference for Establishment of the Regional Information and Communication System" and its adoption. 

Discussions resulted in endorsement of the draft "RICS Development Concept" and recommended that UNODC and CARICC consider organizing and hosting working group meetings to design legal framework and technical specifications for RICS creation.

Participants underscored the importance of engagement by enhancing international cooperation, sharing positive experiences and further developing relations in the field of border security and countering transnational drug crime.