News of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk and Riga

Opinion: 2021 IIHF World Championship will be a test for Belarus’ customs service

MINSK, 28 January (BelTA) – The Belarusian customs is gearing up to welcome participants, fans and tourists during the IIHF World Championship which Belarus will be co-hosting with Latvia in 2021, Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus Yuri Senko said in an interview to the Belarus 1 TV Channel.

“We gained necessary experience during the 2nd European Games. I am sure there will be nothing unexpected for us. Perhaps, it will be only the volume of paperwork. We will know more about it ahead of the competitions. I am confident we will be ready for it, too,” Yuri Senko said.

According to him, the State Customs Committee has already begun training specialists with knowledge of foreign languages for the upcoming world ice hockey event. The national customs agency is cooperating with universities to attract volunteers among future customs specialists. “The students who volunteered during the 2nd European Games take an absolutely different look at the customs service today. This has been noted by teachers. People saw what this job is, what it means to spend a day on the border, when there are winds, rain, and queues. Here we need to teach young people to help make them fully prepared specialists. The IIHF World Championship will be a test for the customs service, and we are ready for it,” said Yuri Senko.

He also spoke about the upgrading of the checkpoints on the border with Latvia and Ukraine. The works are to be completed by 2021. The reconstruction of the Urbany checkpoint is nearing its final stage. A total of Br34 million has been allocated for its modernization. The first launch complex will be fully completed in Q1 2020. An X-ray complex, built with international technical assistance, will be ready before the end of the year. “Half of the checkpoints on the border with Ukraine are ready. Plans are in place to complete the construction before the start of 2021. Financing sources have been agreed upon. The head of state gave his full approval of the project,” the chairman of State Customs Committee said.

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