The role of information technology in Ukrainian national export control

Together with the State Service for Export Control in Ukraine (SSECU), supported by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, SIPRI implemented a project to examine the role of information technology in export control.

Many Ukrainian producers and exporters could unknowingly contribute to nuclear, biological or chemical weapon programmes as well as missile programmes in other countries if they do not follow national export control rules.

Relevant Ukrainian exporters are mainly located in the east of Ukraine while the national export control authority is based in Kyiv. Exporters complain that the existing system for export control is highly inefficient and costly for them to comply with. Modernizing the system will increase the willingness and ability of exporters to comply with the existing rules.

Several European Union member states as well as Canada, South Korea and the United States are moving to an electronic licensing system that connects exporters, licensing officers and enforcement agencies in a network.

Export licensing authorities increasingly use internal networks and different electronic tools, including document management systems and databases, in their work. In Ukraine the export control system is based on paper documents.

Together with STC (Scientific and Technical Centre on the Export and Import of Special Technologies, Hardware and Materials), SIPRI implemented a pre-feasibility project to examine IT options that could increase the effectiveness of Ukrainian national export controls.

The project included international workshops in Kyiv and Odessa as well as a study trip for Ukrainian export control officials to Stockholm to examine the use of IT in Swedish export control.