Today, September 20, is Customs Day in the Republic of Belarus. On this day, we congratulate the people who safeguard the economic interests of the state and ensure the safety and continuity of foreign economic relations. Rector Sergei Kharitonchik addressed his congratulations to the teachers, students, and graduates of the relevant specialties at the Belarusian National Technical University.
Dear colleagues in the customs authorities, dear teachers, students and graduates! I sincerely congratulate you on your professional holiday – Customs Day!
The customs service is a reliable shield protecting the economic interests of our sovereign state and a key instrument for ensuring the stability of the national economy. In the context of modern geopolitical challenges and the global transformation of logistics chains, you bear enormous responsibility for protecting the domestic market, creating favourable conditions for legitimate business, and maintaining the country’s foreign economic potential.
Your professionalism, endurance and dedication to your work command deep respect. We are particularly proud to note that many graduates of the Belarusian National Technical University serve in the ranks of the customs service of the Republic of Belarus, successfully applying the technical, engineering, and analytical knowledge they acquired at the university in practice, introducing innovations and improving the efficiency of the service.
I would like to extend special words of gratitude to the staff and students of the Department of Customs Affairs. It is you who are shaping the intellectual foundation of the profession of tomorrow. Your scientific research, the development of advanced control methods, and the training of highly qualified specialists are a direct contribution to the economic security of our homeland.
I wish students fresh ideas, fruitful practice, and the swift implementation of your bold projects! To teachers and customs specialists, I wish confidence in the future, a reliable colleague by your side, and well‑being for your families! May good luck always accompany you in your work, and may warmth and comfort await you at home!
Rector of BNTU
History of the holiday
The history of customs in the Belarusian lands dates back to ancient times. The first mentions of customs duties and “myty” can be found in charters dating back to the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the norms of customs regulation were set out in detail in the Statutes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
However, the modern starting point for the history of the national customs system of independent Belarus was autumn 1991. On September 20, 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus adopted the Resolution “On the Establishment of the Customs Committee under the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus.” It was this date that became the official birthday of the service and has since been celebrated annually as Customs Officer’s Day.
Over the past decades, the service has undergone a large‑scale transformation. If in the 1990s the main tools were paper declarations and manual inspection, today the Belarusian customs service is a high‑tech and intelligent system. The introduction of the electronic declaration system, the use of the risk management system (RMS), inspection and screening complexes (ISC), and mobile teams have taken control to a qualitatively new level.
Today, customs officers are highly qualified analysts, IT specialists, and diplomats. Not only the economic security of the country, but also the speed of cargo movement depends on their daily, often unnoticeable work.
Customs officers at BNTU
The training of specialists for customs authorities at BNTU is conducted by the Department of "Customs Affairs" of the Faculty of Management Technologies and Humanitarization. The curriculum harmoniously combines in-depth study of customs legislation, logistics and legal disciplines with the development of modern technical controls, IT systems and foreign languages. Special emphasis is placed on a practice‑oriented approach: current employees of customs authorities are involved in teaching special courses, sharing their real‑world experience with students and passing on advanced technologies.
The training is not limited to university classrooms. The department regularly organizes field trips to customs posts and to enterprises that are participants in foreign economic activity. Future specialists study the specifics of processing international postal shipments, the nuances of customs control during road transport, and the operation of logistics hubs.
Students complete their practical training at leading organizations in the industry, such as RUP “Beltamozhservice” and GP “Belintertrans”. In addition, students of the department actively participate in scientific and competitive environments, annually taking part in inter‑university and republican Olympiads in customs affairs, as well as in specialized conferences and seminars with leading practitioners.
BNTU regularly serves as a venue for the Republican Student Olympiad in the specialty “customs affairs”. The university’s teams also traditionally take prizes in republican blitz competitions on customs affairs. The annual intellectual tournament “The Best Future Customs Officer” is particularly popular; it brings together third‑year students from leading universities across the country (BNTU, BSU, BelGUT, GrSU, etc.) to compete in terms of professional knowledge and skills. In addition, students and faculty actively participate in international and republican scientific and practical conferences dedicated to the development of customs affairs, digital innovations, and ensuring economic security.
Training at the Department of Customs Affairs is organized in such a way that the future specialist can feel maximum engagement in the educational process. Students actively work with modern equipment, participate in inter‑university intellectual competitions, and visit active customs checkpoints. This approach ensures the training of highly qualified specialists at a high level, making graduates of BNTU in demand as professionals.
We congratulate everyone involved on Customs Officer’s Day and express sincere gratitude for the hard and responsible work.
