Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 14 November 2025 – A delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) and national postal operator, Pošta Srpske, through our implementing partner GIZ, spent four days gaining firsthand insights into Cambodia’s Customs modernisation efforts — a useful exercise as BiH moves toward similar reforms.
Hosted by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, the group was able to see firsthand how Cambodia has introduced Pre-Arrival Processing, a digital system that speeds up Customs clearance by allowing shipment data to be reviewed before goods even land in the country. Cambodia is the first national Customs administration in the world to implement Pre-Arrival Processing using ASYHUB, a cloud-based solution developed by UNCTAD.
Over the course of the mission, the Bosnian project stakeholders were joined by Cambodian Customs and Post, UNCTAD, and private-sector partners including DHL. Together, they visited a range of operational environments — from the Techo International Airport and express-cargo terminals to the headquarters of Cambodia Post and local Customs offices. Jordan Customs and the Universal Postal Union also contributed remotely during the final sessions.
“We’re proud to share our experience with our Customs colleagues in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Chanthorn Horn, Assistant to the Department of International Airport Customs and Excise. “We are on the same path to modernise our Customs systems.”
A hands-on technical workshop brought the process to life, with Cambodian officials walking the delegation through Pre-Arrival Processing workflows, lessons learned, and the practical challenges of introducing such reforms.
For Pošta Srpske, the benefits are clear. “Fast and transparent Customs processes are crucial for today’s businesses,” noted Gordana Karanović, Head of International Relations. “This project will help us improve the speed and reliability of postal shipments.”
For BiH, the model they observed in Cambodia offers a clear path forward: faster clearance, lower costs, and greater transparency for businesses that depend on reliable postal and express shipments.
From the Indirect Taxation Authority, Dušanka Jovanović reflected on the visit’s impact: “The visit clarified what is achievable in a short timeframe and confirmed our direction. We look forward to achieving similar results with the support of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation.”
As the delegation returns home, the insights gathered will directly shape BiH’s own rollout of Pre-Arrival Processing — a key component of its broader Customs-modernisation agenda, that aims at easing overall cross-border trade.
