Andrey Belyaninov at V Eurasian Economic Forum in Astana

Secretary General of the World Peoples Assembly Andrey Belyaninov became an honorary guest of the Eurasian Economic Forum, which took place in Astana (Kazakhstan) from May 28 to May 29, 2026. The event brought together heads and representatives of government authorities from EAEU member states, heads and members of governments from other countries, representatives of international organizations, as well as leaders of large, medium, and small businesses from EAEU member states and other countries. The main theme of the forum in 2026 is "The EAEU in the Global Digital Race: Betting on Artificial Intelligence."

At the thematic session "Trends in the Development of Customs Regulation and Administration in the Eurasian Economic Union, with the Introduction of AI Tools", which brought together representatives of customs services, government bodies, and businesses, issues related to the implementation of digital technologies and artificial intelligence elements in the customs sphere were discussed. The session was moderated by Sergei Shklyaev, Minister for Customs Cooperation of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Andrey Belyaninov began his speech by congratulating those present on the occasion of the holiday of Kurban Bayram: 

– This is very important. Not only for Kazakhstan, but for all Muslims. We are a society that has absorbed many nations and peoples, yet preserved its unique identity, and we understand: all of this is ours. 

The speaker emphasized the importance of implementing artificial intelligence and training relevant personnel: 

– Artificial intelligence – AI, Ivan Ivanovich – is on the agenda today, and the training of competent personnel in this regard is becoming increasingly important. The World Peoples Assembly, which I have the honor of currently leading, has enormous experience; we work in the field of education with foreign students who want to study at Russian universities. We understand that technologies are advancing so quickly that our people cannot keep up with them. But I am confident that customs officers, both at border posts and in central offices, must be ready for new challenges – they must be extremely well equipped. It is necessary to clearly formulate qualification requirements for employees, without violating the Statute of the Eurasian Economic Commission, and organize their retraining so that AI becomes a true assistant for them, rather than a source of problems.

Other participants of the session also showed genuine interest in the digitalization of customs processes, discussed the risks and limitations encountered in their work, and noted the importance of developing common approaches within the EAEU.

Additional information is available on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly and at media@world-assembly.org.