The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has announced that 2011 will be celebrated as the “Year of Knowledge”. According to the Secretary General of the WCO, Kunio Mikuriya, 2011 will be dedicated to knowledge and the critical part it plays in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations across the globe. Based on the theme "Knowledge, a catalyst for Customs excellence", Mikuriya urged the WCO's 177-member Customs administrations as well as the Customs community's stakeholders to be innovative and creative in taking forward the knowledge theme in all its facets during 2011. The “Year of Knowledge” will be launched on International Customs Day, celebrated annually by the global Customs community on 26 January 2011 in honour of the inaugural session of the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) which took place on 26 January 1953. The CCC adopted the informal working name "World Customs Organisation" in 1994 to better reflect its worldwide growth in membership.
