Armenia customs chief meets with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Shawna Wilson

Eduard Hakobyan, Chairman of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC), held a meeting with Shawna Wilson, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Security Assistance Programs.

According to a statement issued by the SRC, Hakobyan highly praised the longstanding partnership with the United States, particularly the cooperation established under the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program, which has made a significant contribution to the development of Armenia’s customs service, the strengthening of border security, and the enhancement of institutional capacity.

Wilson, in turn, highlighted the results of bilateral cooperation, noting that it contributes to the development of technology and infrastructure, as well as human resource capacity.

During the meeting, the parties discussed ongoing joint projects and their progress, including the implementation of the CertScan system, the risk management system, the provision of modern customs equipment to border crossing points, and cooperation projects under new regional initiatives.

As part of the visit, a practical demonstration of the Centralized Monitoring Center was held to showcase its operations and technological capabilities. The event was attended by representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, the EXBS Program, S2 Global, the SRC, and other state agencies.

Emphasizing the longstanding cooperation between Armenia and the United States, Hakobyan said:

“The establishment of the Center is the result of approximately two and a half years of joint work with the U.S. EXBS Program and S2 Global, technical consultations, and coordinated efforts. These efforts have been driven by the shared goal of strengthening threat detection capabilities, combating smuggling, and improving the effectiveness of border inspections through centralized image analysis and advanced technological solutions. Today, we are pleased to see this shared vision translated into a tangible achievement: the Centralized Monitoring Center, equipped with modern technological infrastructure and staffed by specially trained customs officers.”

Congratulating Armenia on having a state-of-the-art center, Wilson emphasized that over the past year, Armenia and the United States had significantly deepened their commitment to ensuring lasting peace, prosperity, and security.

“The $3.5 million U.S. investment in the CertScan system to strengthen Armenia’s border security is one of the key outcomes of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Armenia and the United States, enabling words to be translated into practical action. It directly contributes to achieving the objectives of the TRIPP initiative by providing real-time information, enabling informed decision-making, and strengthening citizens’ security and confidence. I look forward to the continued development of our partnership and further joint work,” she said.

Randy Barnby, a representative of S2 Global, discussed the operational capabilities of the CertScan system, emphasizing that it is already being used at several border crossing points in Armenia, enabling unified data analysis, transparency, and traceability of operations.

“The CertScan system has been deployed in 21 countries, but the work of the Armenian team is truly impressive. Our partners strive not only to master the software but also to gain an in-depth understanding of all the system’s components and technical principles. This dedication and professional approach are essential for the effective use of the system and the improvement of Armenia’s customs operations,” he said.

The Centralized Monitoring Center was launched in May 2026. It enables the centralized monitoring from Yerevan of X-ray equipment installed at various border crossing points and the two-tier analysis of the resulting images, ensuring the traceability and efficiency of customs control processes.