Armenia launches new border monitoring center and CertScan system with U.S. su

The opening ceremony of the Centralized Monitoring Center and the launch of the CertScan program took place at the State Revenue Committee headquarters.

The projects were implemented with support from the U.S. government, within the framework of the State Department’s EXBS program, in cooperation with S2Global, and support from the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan.

Eduard Hakobyan, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee, said that the establishment of the Monitoring Center and the implementation of the CertScan project are the result of more than two years of dedicated planning, close collaboration, and continuous effort.

“CertScan will significantly strengthen border security, enhance the identification of potential risks and security threats, reduce corruption risks and internal threats, and improve the efficiency, consistency, and transparency of customs control operations,” said Hakobyan. He added that, in practice, the system will serve as a centralized technological tool for border management, ensuring safer, more secure, and more efficient customs operations while also facilitating legal trade and the smooth movement of goods across Armenia’s borders.

According to Hakobyan, through modern technological solutions, faster information exchange, and centralized expert oversight, the Monitoring Center aligns Armenia’s customs procedures with the highest international standards.

David Allen, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, said that the new system will significantly facilitate customs procedures.

“This is a state-of-the-art system that integrates various components of border checkpoints—from X-ray machines and other scanners to physical inspections—into a single unified platform. The system will assist the State Revenue Service and individual officers in making decisions about what requires additional inspection and what can just go forward. At the same time, it will speed up processes, reduce service time, and enhance the Committee’s capacity to detect, prevent, and curb illegal and illicit trade,” stated the Chargé d’Affaires.

Michael Maglothin, Director of International Projects at S2 Global Inc., said that the implemented CertScan system reflects operational and technical expertise gained through deployments supporting customs and border agencies in various countries around the world. He assured that the tool will serve the State Revenue Committee effectively for many years to come.

The system integrates X-ray scan images from border checkpoints and terminals of the State Revenue Committee into a single platform, enabling centralized, real-time monitoring of these images.

The implementation of this platform is expected to significantly enhance border security by enabling more effective detection of potential risks and security threats. At the same time, it will reduce corruption risks by improving the transparency of customs control processes, thereby supporting the development of legal trade and the smooth movement of goods across Armenia’s borders. During the project’s implementation, particular emphasis was placed on the application and integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning elements within the customs system.