The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC), with the financial support of the European Union, together with the Center on Export Control (CEC), initiated a project to develop a course on export control  to be followed by a master program on Strategic Trade Control at the Zhusup Balasagyn Kyrgyz National University (KNU) at the Department of Customs Affairs, Faculty of Law.

The implementation of the course and master programme on strategic trade control will allow Kyrgyzstan strengthen the system of control over sensitive transfers and minimize the risks of violation of legislation in the field of export control. Also, it will increase the awareness of customs officers, company employees and government officials on export control issues.

In this regard, scheduled meetings of university professors and experts in the field of export control on development an academic program on strategic trade control at KNU were held on February 9 and March 6, 2021 in Bishkek. As Kazakhstan is already working on the implementation of a similar program for strategic trade control, it was proposed to develop this project together with Kazakh specialists from the Gumilyov Eurasian National University.

This academic program will be developed at the intersection of world trade and international relations. The content of the program comprise the use of trade sanctions, protection and control of dual-use trade to mitigate new security threats, with information on best practices, recent developments in export control, international non-proliferation obligations and the country's national export control system.