Kazakhstan and Hong Kong Working on Mutual Recognition of Authorized Economic Operator Status

      A delegation from the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department visited Kazakhstan from September 21 to 23, 2026. The visit took place as part of efforts to prepare an agreement on the mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programs.

          AEOs are companies that comply with customs legislation and are entitled to special simplifications during customs procedures. This status allows compliant businesses to clear customs faster and reduce associated time and financial costs.

          During the visit, representatives from Hong Kong Customs visited JSC «Eurasian Foods» in Karaganda—a domestic manufacturer and an AEO since 2019. The Hong Kong delegation toured the facility and observed firsthand how the AEO program is implemented in Kazakhstan.

          On September 23, a bilateral meeting was held between representatives of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Hong Kong Customs. The Kazakh side outlined the procedure for obtaining AEO status, the requirements for companies, and the customs simplifications available to them.

          The parties agreed on the key stages of future work regarding the AEO program mutual recognition agreement.

Once the agreement is concluded, companies holding AEO status that meet the established requirements will benefit from faster and more convenient customs processing for trade between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong.

          This will reduce the time required for customs operations, lower time and financial costs for businesses, make international shipments more predictable, and enhance supply chain security and resilience.

          The agreement is tentatively scheduled to be signed in September 2027.
          The collaboration between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong aims to make foreign trade faster, more convenient, and more secure for compliant businesses.