On 6 December 2023, the Regional Symposium on TRIP Traveller Identification Programme started in Almaty under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), with the support of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Civil Aviation Committee and the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan.

The welcoming speech for the TRIP Regional Symposium was delivered by Talgat Lastayev, Vice Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Sylvain Lefoyer, Deputy Director of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for the Aviation Security and Facilitation, as well as Raymond Benjamin, former Secretary General of ICAO.

Vice Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, Talgat Lastaev, in his speech noted that the aviation authorities of Kazakhstan in an endeavor to ensure the safe development of civil aviation and increase the attractiveness of air transit, are actively working to implement new approaches to the management of civil aviation industry in Kazakhstan and improve the level of compliance of flight safety to international standards. The TRIP (Traveller Identification Programme) Regional Symposium is being held for the first time in Kazakhstan and is a world-class event providing an opportunity to exchange information on all aspects of passenger identification management.

Sylvain Lefoyer, Deputy Director of ICAO for the Aviation Security and Facilitation said that Facilitation is currently one of the essential priorities of the ICAO Council. In this regard, and in recognition and importance of the 75th anniversary of ICAO Annex 9, it has been decided to declare 2024 as the Year of Facilitation.

A key focus of the event is to enhance traveller mobility through technology and innovation. All government officials as well as civil aviation stakeholders attending this event will gain a better understanding of the ICAO Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP), related groups such as the ICAO TRIP Technical Advisory Group (TAG/TRIP) and related working groups - the New Technology Working Group (NTWG) and the Implementation and Capacity Building Working Group (ICBWG). In addition, Symposium participants will be introduced to the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD) Council with the aim of engagement and contribution to these meetings.

The event’s programme includes 10 sessions spread over three days that are directly related to the five elements of the ICAO TRIP strategy: identity verification, machine-readable travel documents, document issuance and control, verification systems and tools, and complementary information systems.

It should be noted that the TRIP Symposium is attended by more than 280 participants from 30 countries such as Canada, France, Switzerland, Turkey, Qatar, Singapore, United States of America, China, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Romania, New Zealand, Germany, Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and others.

International organisations such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Airports Council International (ACI), International Air Transport Association (IATA), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Interpol General Secretariat, International Criminal Police Organization, and European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) as well as foreign airlines represented in the Republic of Kazakhstan are also participating in the Symposium.

On the Kazakhstani side, the event is attended by representatives of the government agencies (BC NSC RK, CMS MIA RK, MDDIAI), Kazakhstani airports and domestic airlines.

On the first day of the TRIP Regional Symposium, there will be three panel sessions: ICAO’s role and mandate related to Facilitation Matters; National Air Transport Facilitation Programmes Implementation; and Supporting Improved National Identity Management Practices.

The second day will feature four panel sessions: ICAO MRTD Standards and Specifications; Document Issuance and Control; Border Control: Inspection Systems and Tools & Interoperable Applications; ICAO Capacity Building and Assistance to States.

The final day will feature three panel sessions: Border Management: advanced passenger information & data sharing platform; Technical Innovation and Future of Border Management; and a Workshop on the New Doc 9303 specifications and deadline implications.