During the period of 1-5 October, 2007 the delegation from Uzbekistan consisting of the representatives of the President’s office, General Prosecutor’s office, Ministry of Finance, State Tax Committee, Central Bank and UNDP, has undertaken a study-tour to France in order to learn French experience in combating money laundering.

The visit was organized by UNDP "Public Finance Reform in Uzbekistan" and "Improving Tax Administration in Uzbekistan" Projects jointly with OSCE, as well as with support of the Economic Mission of the Embassy of France in Uzbekistan and ADETEF (Agency for international technical cooperation under the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Employment of France).

The overall objective of the visit was to learn the best practices of France in the field of fighting against legalization of incomes received from criminal activities, as well as preventing illegal and suspicious financial operations and fighting against tax evasion.

Delegation visited the key government ministries and agencies of France working on combating money laundering and crime financing, i.e. they met with senior experts of the Ministry of economy, finance and employment of France, Central office on fighting against large-scale financial crime under the General direction of legal police of the Ministry of Interior, Central Bank (Banque de France) and Bank Commission, Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutors’ office under the Financial Bureau of the Court of Highest Resort of Paris.

Also, the meetings were organized with the Director on security issues of the Credit Agricol, the biggest commercial Bank of France, as well as with senior management of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) and TRACFIN, which is the Special service of fighting against money laundering under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance.
During the visit the members of the delegation got acquainted with the specifics of work in the field of anti-money laundering of all above-mentioned organizations in France.

The knowledge obtained by the Uzbek delegation during this study-tour to France will be used while improving the effectiveness of the respective ministries and agencies of Uzbekistan involved into combating money laundering and legalization of incomes received from criminal activities.