An international symposium titled “International Standards for Security Audits and Inspections at Airports and at Land and Maritime Border Crossing Points” was held in Almaty, organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) together with the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The event was attended by representatives of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, as well as experts from the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.

The participants discussed the implementation of advanced technologies, the improvement of international audit and inspection standards, and the strengthening of cooperation in the field of border security. Special attention was given to the standards and recommended practices of Annex 9 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, particularly the enhancement of migration management through the further development of API/PNR mechanisms, as well as the exchange of experience on the implementation of ICAO standards in Kazakhstan regarding travel documents.

Ainur Omirzak, Senior аviation inspector of Air transportation Division of the Department of Facilitation, Passenger and Cargo Services, delivered a presentation titled “Results of the ICAO Audit on Aviation Security and Facilitation.”

In addition, a training seminar titled “Overcoming Security Challenges in Landlocked States with Large Border Crossings” was held in Astana at the Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the seminar, Arailym Abildinova, Aviation inspector of Air transportation Division of the Department of facilitation, passenger and cargo services, delivered a presentation on “Effective Interagency Cooperation in the Aviation Sector: Strategies for Efficient Interagency Communication and Collaboration.”

Kazakhstan is consistently improving its national legislation to ensure aviation security and facilitation, while implementing the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In particular, this year requirements were introduced mandating the presence of Automated Border Control (ABC) systems at airports in the Republic of Kazakhstan with an annual passenger flow of more than one million. These measures will enhance overall efficiency and security at the country’s international airports and contribute to the digitalization of the transport sector. The implementation of such systems is in line with international practice, where ABC technology is already widely used, including in countries such as the UAE, Singapore, Canada, and the United States.