A meeting to discuss border crossing infrastructure with the participation of deputy prime ministers Vitaly Savelyev and Alexei Overchuk, and Minister for Customs Cooperation of the Eurasian Economic Commission Ruslan Davydov was led by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
Vitaly Savelyev briefed the participants about the efforts to build new and upgrade existing border checkpoints along Russia’s borders, and provided data to back up significant capacity increases at the checkpoints that had been renovated earlier.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, there are 315 border crossing points in the country, of which 87 are listed as priority checkpoints and handle more than half of the nation’s cargo traffic. This year, work will complete at 85 sites, compared to 64 checkpoints completed between 2017 and 2021, 65 in 2022, and 75 in 2023.
Speaking of key achievements from 2021 to 2024, Vitaly Savelyev mentioned comprehensive modernisation of 14 out of 87 priority checkpoints. A major goal to be achieved by 2030 includes fulfilling the President’s instruction to reduce lorry inspection times to 10 minutes at 55 vehicle checkpoints and at five checkpoints in the Russian Far East by late 2026. This effort will be facilitated by sweeping introduction of innovative solutions aimed at fast-tracking border crossing procedures.
One such solution includes implementing a “smart checkpoint” concept, which uses data generation to streamline monitoring operations. The first prototype has been developed at the Tagirkent-Kazmalyar checkpoint on the Azerbaijani border. The necessary equipment has been installed, and pilot operations are underway in collaboration with the monitoring authorities.
Lorry queue management at vehicle checkpoints has benefitted from the introduction of an electronic queuing system. This free digital service helps freight carriers save time when crossing the border. Currently, the system is operational at three vehicle checkpoints: Chernyshevskoye on the Lithuanian border, Bugristoye on the Kazakhstani border, and Zabaikalsk on the Chinese border.
Vitaly Savelyev also noted the availability of standardised solutions for building and upgrading border checkpoints which have been used at the Kani-Kurgan checkpoint currently under construction. Year-round international passenger service between Blagoveshchensk, Russia, and Heihe, China, opened on December 10.
The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of implementing digital technology-based comprehensive solutions, including the internet of things, big data analysis, and artificial intelligence. He also stressed the importance of unifying and synchronising the EAEU members’ efforts to enhance and upgrade customs infrastructure along the EAEU’s external borders.
Ruslan Davydov briefed Mikhail Mishustin on the progress of border crossing infrastructure development in the EAEU.
Based on the reports, the participants discussed ways to further improve customs administration within the EAEU.
