Kazakhstan delegation represented by specialists of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan JSC, Almaty International Airport JSC, and the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Canada participated in the eighteenth International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Passenger Identification Program (TRIP) Symposium and the joint ICAO and International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) Biometrics Forum at the ICAO Headquarters in Montreal on September 12-14, 2023. The delegation was led by Mr. Darkhan Yespotanov, Deputy General Director for Aviation Security of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan.

The TRIP Symposium is a world-class event enabling the exchange of information on all aspects of traveller identification management. Its various sessions highlighted the need to enhance international cooperation and collaboration to facilitate the traveller’s journey while addressing the multiple threats faced by international civil aviation.

Within the framework of the eighteenth TRIP Symposium, the Kazakhstan delegation held a meeting with representatives of the ICAO office in Montreal headed by Mr. Sylvain Lefoyer - Deputy Director, Aviation Security and Facilitation, Air Transport Bereau ICAO. The meeting was dedicated to the discussion of preparations for the upcoming TRIP Regional Symposium to be held in Almaty on December 6-8, 2023. During the meeting the Kazakhstan party confirmed its readiness to hold the TRIP Regional Symposium and discussed the preliminary program of the event.

There was also a meeting held during the Symposium with Mr. Dion Chamberlain – Chairperson of ICAO Implementation and Capacity Building Working Group under the ICAO Technical Advisory Group on Passenger Identification (TAG/TRIP). Mr. Chamberlain confirmed the meeting of the Implementation and Capacity Building Working Group to be held on December 4-5, 2023 in Almaty. Besides experts from various ICAO member countries, the named meeting provides an opportunity to participate in the event to state authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan as Border Control Service of National Security Committee, Committee of migration service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry. International experts will discuss topics related to key elements of the TRIP strategy, i.e. evidence of identity, machine-readable travel documents (MRTD), document issuance and control, inspection systems and tools, interoperable applications.

The regulatory framework for the implementation of the TRIP strategy is the provisions of Annex 9 Facilitation to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. In combination with the new technologies available on the market, the implementation of the provisions of Annex 9 Facilitation and the TRIP strategy will allow to achieve better passenger service quality, increasing passenger mobility through technology and innovation.