On August 6-7, 2025, a subregional conference on export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods was held at the Jannat Resort Hotel in the Kyrgyz Republic. It brought together representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Turkey, as well as representatives of international organizations such as the OSCE and the ISTC, including international experts from the UN Security Council’s 1540 Committee and the European Union, as well as Taalaibek Bektashev, Head of the Center for Non-Proliferation and Export Control.
The event was organized as part of a joint initiative of the European Union’s P2P Arms Export Control Program (COARM VII) and the P2P 105 Program on Dual-Use Goods Control in Central Asia. Both projects are being implemented by the German Federal Office for Economics and Export Control (BAFA) with the support of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The EU P2P Programme on Export Controls for Dual-Use Goods aims to facilitate the establishment, consolidation, and/or updating of effective strategic trade control (STC) systems for dual-use goods by raising awareness among key national stakeholders, such as legislators, law enforcement officials, government officials, and industry representatives, of the importance of STCs in preventing WMD proliferation.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Mr. Sultan Akhmatov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Hans Farnhammer, Representative of the European Union Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, and Dr. Mandy Pastor, President of BAFA.
The programme included six sessions with presentations and discussions on the following topics:
• The importance of export controls in international trade and security, including in the context of the implementation of the EU Common Position (2008/944/CFSP) and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
• Review of UNSCR 1540 as the international legal basis for dual-use goods controls.
• Presentation of the national export control systems of eight participating countries, with a focus on approaches to licensing and legal regulation.
• EU control lists for military and dual-use goods, including their practical application.
• Examples of national practices in applying control lists in the licensing process.
Key speakers at the conference included:
• Dr. Crystal Pryor (TradeStrategic LLC),
• Sandra Raka and Werner Knapp (BAFA),
• Matej Benda, Deputy Director of the Licensing Authority of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic,
• Matjaž Murovec, EU P2P P105 Key Expert,
• as well as representatives of national authorities of the participating countries.
Participants noted the importance of regional dialogue, exchange of best practices, and strengthening international cooperation to improve the effectiveness of export controls and prevent arms proliferation.
