THE ROLE OF CUSTOMS SERVICES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOREIGN TRADE IN UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

This thesis examines the role of customs services in the development of foreign trade in Uzbekistan. The study argues that customs administration should be understood not only as a fiscal and control institution, but also as a strategic mechanism of trade facilitation, border governance, legal certainty, and export-import competitiveness. In the case of Uzbekistan, the practical significance of customs services has increased in parallel with the country’s broader efforts to integrate into regional and global trade, improve transit connectivity, and align national procedures with international standards. The thesis shows that the contemporary role of customs in Uzbekistan is expressed through several interconnected functions: regulating the movement of goods and vehicles across the customs border, ensuring customs control and clearance, collecting customs charges, simplifying procedures for traders, introducing risk management, digitalizing customs operations, and supporting WTO-oriented trade facilitation reforms.