DUSHANBE, July 22, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- On Wednesday July 21, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan, Ken Gross, dedicated the newly completed Commercial Customs Facility and vehicle scanner facilities at Tajikistan’s border crossing point at Nizhny Panj, Khatlon province.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, the $7.6 million project was funded by the U.S. Central Command''s (USCENTCOM) Counter Narcotics Office.  Major-General Robert Livingston of USCENTCOM attended the dedication.

Ambassador Gross said that “this project demonstrates U.S. commitment to supporting Tajikistan’s efforts to stem the flow of illegal narcotics and contraband from Afghanistan into Tajikistan, and supports the development of north-south trade corridors.”

The Commercial Customs Facility has a customs processing area, administration building, living quarters, and a dining facility.

This is the latest in a series of U.S.-sponsored support projects for Tajikistan’s border security that include constructing the Tajik-Afghan Friendship Bridge at Nizhny Panj, border crossing point facilities, and Border Guard outposts along the Tajik-Afghan border.   USCENTCOM Counter Narcotics, the United States Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) and International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) programs have provided facilities, equipment and training for Border Guards and Customs officials throughout Tajikistan.

The goal of U.S.-Tajik Cooperation is to improve Tajikistan’s ability to secure its borders while at the same time improving trade and business opportunities for the population.  USCENTCOM plans to conduct several follow-on projects to improve work at Nizhny Panj.  These include replacing the current transformer with a more powerful one, installing new water pumps with a better filtration system, building kiosks for operators of 60 ton scales for cargo vehicles, as well as building fences, lighting, parking lots and access roads to improve security and operations.