A handicraft contest followed by an exhibition of pieces of art reflecting local traditions in border regions, conducted in Uzbekistan, and has completed a series of celebration activities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of funded by the European Union flagship programmes, Border Management in Central Asia (BOMCA) and Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP).

The solemn event gathered over 100 programme partners and beneficiaries from all five Central Asian countries: state institutions, international organizations, embassies, and civil society representatives.

“Over the past two decades, these initiatives have been pivotal in fostering cooperation, stability, and development in the regions they serve. Most importantly, I believe that those EU-funded programmes serve as an important instrument to advance on reform efforts and regional cooperation in Central Asia. So, 20 years is indeed a huge milestone that deserves celebration”, said H.E. Charlotte Adriaen, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan.

The Central Asia Drug Action Programme, CADAP, has systematically invested in drug policy development in Central Asia over the past 20 years. The exchange of experience and the introduction of international standards in the work of national partners have strengthened work not only on drug policy but also on data collection and analysis, prevention of drug use, and treatment of people with drug disorders. The programme also supported building regional alliances and networks of professionals in Central Asia and strengthened cooperation with EU Member States Agencies in drug policy.

The EU launched the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA) in 2003 to support the EU-Central Asia dialogue in border security and facilitate collaboration between the five Central Asian countries for more effective border management. In the past two decades, BOMCA has supported national partner agencies in their work on institutional development and has kept enhancing the skills of border, customs, and veterinary agencies participating in the border process by bringing lessons learned from the EU Member States.

It was noted that over its 20 years, BOMCA has undergone a thematic transformation, shifting from a primary focus on border management to encompass trade facilitation, migration management, and collaborative efforts in border areas. In its current 10th phase, BOMCA has started working closely with the border area communities to improve local livelihoods, empower women, and focus on migrants involving civil society.

Saidmurod Rakhimov, UzA