On July 5, 2023, in Tbilisi Customs Clearance Zone Ms. Sanja Celebic Lukovac, IOM Chief of Mission joined Head of Customs Department, Mr. Zurab Sitchinava on a formal donation ceremony of advanced equipment with a total budget of 53 000 GEL to the Customs Department of Revenue Service.

10 Customs inspection toolsets and 50 tablets procured by IOM with the financial support of the European Union will be distributed to several key border crossing points across Georgia. The donated equipment will contribute to the efficiency of customs control procedures as well as identification and prevention of cross-border crime.

The action titled “Support to Integrated Border Management in Georgia” is implemented by IOM, in the framework of the EU4 Security, Accountability and Fight against Crime in Georgia (SAFE) programme and aims to contribute to the consolidation of key elements of Integrated Border Management (IBM) in Georgia. Revenue Service represents one of the key beneficiaries of IOM, both in terms of targeted capacity building activities, as well as procurement interventions aiming to strengthen Georgia’s customs control capacities at border crossing points.

This project with a budget of EUR 8.2 million continues comprehensive EU support in the last 10 years, dedicated to strengthening Georgia’s immigration and border management capabilities, to cement compliance with relevant EU-Georgia Agreements and the visa liberalization benchmarks.