Workshop on Strategic Trade Control: Development of Technical Skills

On 18–19 December 2025, a two-day Workshop on Strategic Trade Control (STC): Development of Technical Skills was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. The workshop aimed to strengthen professional competencies and practical skills in the field of export control, with a particular focus on technical identification and risk assessment.

The event was organized by the Center on Export Control with support of the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), within the framework of the Women in Export Control (WEC) initiative.

The workshop brought together representatives of government institutions, academia, business and technical experts from the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan. The program was designed to enhance participants’ understanding of international and national export control regulations, as well as to develop hands-on skills required for the identification of dual-use goods and technologies.

Day 1

During the first day, participants explored:

  • international and national export control legislation;
  • export controls related to biological agents and toxins;
  • identification of chemical, biological, nuclear, and electronic dual-use equipment;
  • practical approaches to technical analysis of controlled items.

Day 2

The second day focused on applied and practice-oriented aspects, including:

  • practical identification of dual-use goods in real-world scenarios;
  • the role of customs authorities in enforcing export control measures;
  • presentation and discussion of projects developed by participants within the mentoring program;
  • interactive communication and capacity-building sessions.

Special attention throughout the seminar was given to empowering women professionals in export control, strengthening their technical expertise, and fostering sustainable professional networks within the strategic trade control community.

The workshop demonstrated the strong demand for practice-oriented capacity-building activities and marked an important step toward enhancing national expertise in strategic trade control in the Kyrgyz Republic, in line with international standards and best practices.