A field study visit to Poti was organised by the Vocational Education Centre of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, with the aim of giving students an opportunity to learn about customs operations, procedures and control mechanisms in a real working environment.

As part of the visit, students of the vocational programme “Customs Affairs” visited the Poti Customs Clearance Zone, where customs officers introduced them to the practical aspects of customs operations, ongoing procedures and the specifics of their work. The students also visited the “Poti and Kulevi Ports” Customs Checkpoint and the Poti Free Industrial Zone, where they received comprehensive information about customs control procedures and the procedures applicable within the Free Industrial Zone.

An important part of the visit was dedicated to meetings with the administration of the Poti Free Industrial Zone and companies operating within the zone, providing students with an opportunity to learn about the specifics of their operations.

As part of their practical training, the students also visited the vehicle scanning facility, where they had the opportunity to gain detailed information in a real working environment about scanning procedures, their purposes, technological capabilities and their importance in the customs control process.

As Lasha Chakvetadze, Head of the Vocational Programme “Customs Affairs” (Kutaisi), noted, the knowledge gained in a real working environment, direct communication with professionals and exposure to practical processes provide students with valuable experience that contributes to the development of their professional competencies and prepares them for their future careers.