The Secretary General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Kunio Mikuriya, announced that 2014 will be dedicated to promoting communication under the slogan “Communication: sharing information for better cooperation.” “Communicating Customs achievements and its willingness to do more in national, regional, and international fora and mediums raises awareness of the vital role Customs plays in international trade, revenue collection, border security and economic competitiveness,” said WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya. “Good communication also has a profound impact on how we learn from each other.” The Secretary General added that “together, Customs has made commendable progress in achieving better visibility with national governments, international organisations, businesses, donors, development banks and other international trade stakeholders. We need, however, to continue boosting the Customs public profile and unique expertise.” Good communication practices by WCO Members are abundant: Member websites, specialised magazines, media outreach and social networks are trailblazing the way towards greater awareness of the contribution of Customs to a more productive and resilient trade environment. The Year of Communication will be launched on International Customs Day, celebrated annually by the global Customs community on 26 January 2014 in honour of the inaugural session of the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) which took place on 26 January 1953 The WCO invited the Customs community to mark 26 January 2014 in their diaries.
